A woman in Indiana who was found guilty of neglecting her infant daughter has been sentenced to a very short time behind bars despite the tragic outcome.
Kristina Gensheimer, 35, received a sentence of 910 days in prison, but with 760 days credited for time already served and 110 days suspended, leaving her with only 40 days to serve.
Child Neglect Case
Gensheimer was convicted last month of Level 6 felony child neglect, a lesser charge than what she initially faced, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
The incident occurred on August 25, 2024, when emergency personnel and police were called to a home on Congress Avenue in Indianapolis. Authorities found 4-month-old Emma unresponsive in her mother’s bedroom. The infant was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead, WXIN reported.
Circumstances of the Death
Gensheimer reportedly told authorities that she woke to find her daughter lying on the bedroom floor, facing the ceiling with purple lips. The child had a soiled diaper, but medical personnel found no external injuries aside from a severe diaper rash.
An autopsy determined that Emma died from “sudden unexplained death of an infant, with intrinsic and extrinsic factors,” including co-sleeping with her mother and falling from an adult-size bed.
Background on Mother and Baby
In the weeks leading up to the incident, Emma had been sleeping in bed with her mother rather than in her bassinet. Gensheimer admitted that in the months before her daughter’s birth, she used heroin, methamphetamine, and nicotine vapes daily. Emma had been born six weeks early and reportedly experienced withdrawal symptoms.
On the morning of Emma’s death, authorities said Gensheimer woke at 6 a.m., fed her daughter a bottle, and then reportedly took GHB, also known as “liquid ecstasy,” before going back to sleep. She awoke later to find her daughter on the floor.
Investigation and Arrest
Investigators spoke with individuals close to Gensheimer in the days leading up to Emma’s death and learned the infant had a fever and was unusually fussy. Based on these findings, Gensheimer was arrested and charged with child neglect.
