Foster mom sentenced to prison for killing tot

A West Valley woman has been sentenced to one to 15 years in prison for killing an 18-month-old foster child in her care.

Jeannette Ilene Gomez, 30, changed a previous not-guilty plea to a guilty plea in February. She pleaded to a charge of second-degree felony child abuse homicide, a plea agreement that reduced a previous charge of first-degree felony murder.

On Oct. 22, 2003, police responded to a call that a baby had stopped breathing at a house near 3400 South and 6400 West. Gomez told police the baby fell from his crib and hit his head, according to court documents.

An autopsy found hemorrhaging, various small contusions and injuries to the scalp, torso and extremities. The Utah State Medical Examiner's Office believes the injuries were caused by something with a velocity greater than the baby's weight dropped a few feet, court documents state.

Police believe Gomez was frustrated with the baby's crying and may have hit the baby or thrown him.