Troy, OH – An Ohio man who admitted to killing a 1-year-old girl by slamming her head into the floor because she would not stop crying has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, leaving the victim’s family outraged over the punishment.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Michael Mayor, 34, changed his plea in late June from not guilty by reason of insanity to guilty in the murder of Vivian Gardner. On Tuesday, Judge Jeannine Pratt handed down the mandatory sentence for murder in Ohio, noting that her hands were tied by sentencing guidelines.
“If I had the discretion, you would be getting a much larger sentence,” Pratt told Mayor in court, according to the Dayton Daily News.
The victim’s family expressed deep frustration at the possibility Mayor could one day be released, vowing to fight for sentencing reforms for violent crimes.
Brutal Killing of a Toddler
The crime occurred on December 5, 2024, when Mayor was left to care for Vivian while his wife, a professional babysitter, took other children to school. Investigators said Mayor admitted he became frustrated when Vivian wouldn’t stop crying…