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A French daycare worker faced the possibility of a 30-year prison sentence on Thursday for causing the death of a baby by making her ingest drain-cleaning fluid at the childcare facility where she was employed.
Prosecutors in Lyon sought a 30-year sentence for Myriam Jaouen, 30, with a minimum of 20 years before parole eligibility, in connection with the 2022 death of baby Lisa. The child passed away just one week before her first birthday. A verdict was expected later in the day.
Describing the crime as “unfathomable,” prosecutor Baptiste Godreau argued that Jaouen had been “perfectly conscious” of her actions. He justified the “heavy” sentence request by stating it was necessary to punish the severity of the act, protect society, and safeguard the family’s interests. “For having taken the life of a defenseless child in a cowardly fashion,” he added.
During police custody, Jaouen admitted to giving Lisa the corrosive substance but denied any intent to kill. Throughout the investigation and trial, she provided multiple explanations before ultimately confessing in court that she had restrained the child and poured the liquid directly into her mouth. Her reason: she could no longer tolerate Lisa’s crying.
“Is it impossible to spend eight minutes alone with a child when you have the qualification?” Godreau questioned.
The prosecutor further condemned Jaouen’s actions after the incident, highlighting her failure to seek help. Instead, she discarded the bottle, completed her work shift, and went shopping, seemingly unbothered by the baby’s suffering.
Throughout the proceedings, Jaouen remained hunched over and showed little emotion. Partially deaf and still living with her parents at the time, she had struggled academically and held a series of short-term childcare jobs before being hired by People and Baby, a major operator in France’s private daycare sector.
On the morning of June 22, 2022, Lisa’s father dropped her off at the facility, where Jaouen was the only staff member present. Minutes later, two women arriving to drop off their children found Jaouen in a state of panic as Lisa vomited. The baby, suffering from severe burns, was rushed to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries later that morning.
Lisa’s death sparked national outrage, prompting both governmental and media investigations into deficiencies within France’s private daycare industry. However, in court, her grieving parents sought to shift the focus back to Jaouen’s criminal responsibility, describing her as the “monster” who took their daughter’s life.
