An Ohio daycare operator has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of a 5-month-old boy who suffered fatal head injuries while in her care.
Tammra R. Straughter, 54, was sentenced Wednesday by Franklin County Judge Bill Sperlazza after a jury found her guilty of murder and child endangerment in August.
She will be eligible for parole after serving at least 15 years.
The case centers on the death of Kashan R. Crawford-Chatman, who was being cared for at Straughter’s home daycare in Reynoldsburg in October 2023.
Kashan and his twin brother had been born prematurely and spent several weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit before eventually going home.
Their mother, Stacia Crawford, later returned to work and began taking the boys to Straughter’s home for childcare.
On Oct. 9, 2023, Crawford dropped both babies off at the daycare.
A few hours later, police contacted her and said emergency crews were at the home after Kashan briefly stopped breathing.
According to court records and a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his family, Straughter told Crawford that Kashan had choked on formula and that she had hit him on the back before leaving briefly to help another child.
She said that when she returned, Kashan appeared to be struggling to breathe.
Crawford later took her son to an urgent care facility, where his condition worsened.
Kashan stopped breathing again and was rushed by ambulance to a hospital before being transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Doctors there discovered extensive injuries.
According to the family’s lawsuit, medical staff found bruising across Kashan’s body, two jaw fractures and severe head trauma.
His injuries were reported to Franklin County Children Services, which opened an abuse investigation.
Kashan died less than a week later.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office ruled his death a homicide caused by a closed-head injury consistent with abusive head trauma, historically referred to as shaken baby syndrome.
Prosecutors argued that Straughter violently shook Kashan while he was in her care.
Investigators also focused on Straughter’s own statements about the infant.
Authorities said she had described Kashan as “fussy” on the day he was injured.
A search of her phone reportedly showed deleted text messages in which she complained about the fussiness of the twin boys.
Prosecutors also presented video from inside Straughter’s home that they said showed Kashan appearing normal earlier in the day before his condition suddenly changed.
At the time, Straughter was reportedly caring for Kashan, his twin brother and several other children by herself.
She was indicted and arrested in February 2024.
During the investigation, child welfare officials substantiated physical-abuse allegations against Straughter, while allegations involving Kashan’s parents were not substantiated.
Straughter maintained her innocence throughout the case.
The jury ultimately convicted her of murder and child endangerment.
She received credit for 54 days already served.
The case has also raised questions about home daycare oversight in Ohio.
Under state law, some smaller in-home daycare operations can legally operate without a traditional childcare license if they stay below certain limits on the number and ages of children in their care.
Straughter’s sentencing closes the criminal trial, but the civil wrongful death case filed by Kashan’s family remains separate.
