Manassas Babysitter to Serve Five Years in Death of Toddler

A Virginia babysitter will serve five years in the death of the 23-month-old boy who was in her care

A Virginia babysitter will serve five years in the death of the 23-month-old boy who was in her care.

Jessica Fraraccio was sentenced Monday to 50 years in prison, with all but five years suspended. She will also serve probation.

More than 38 family members of the child, Elijah Nealy, attended the sentencing and said they were upset with the judge's ruling. 

"It truly doesn't make sense. I don't know what [the judge] was thinking," the boy's father, Michael Nealy, told News4. "We'll keel our son a constant memory. He's always there in our hearts."

Fraraccio, now 22, was arrested in Manassas in March 2013, seven months after the toddler died while she was babysitting him at his family's home.

The child sustained multiple injuries, authorities said.

Fraraccio pleaded guilty to felony murder and child abuse in October, the Washington Post reported:

At first, Fraraccio said the boy had slipped in the tub and hit his head, but months later she told police that wasn't true, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Teresa A. Polinske said in court.

In court in October, Fraraccio admitted to smothering the boy after he wouldn't stop crying.

"She's not going to be forgiven. She's guilty," Nealy said. "She did what she did, and she's going to pay the price one way or another."

The hardest part, he said, is knowing all the memories he'll never make with his son.

"He was turning into such an awesome little boy, and that's the part I miss. I'll never get to see that."

Upon her release from prison, the judge also ordered that Fraraccio write a check for at least $1 a year to the charity of her choice for the rest of her life.

Contact Us