According to the court documents, the 35-year-old woman was sentenced to 31 years and 3 months in prison for her role in the brutal murder of her boyfriend’s 3-year-old daughter. She was sentenced on Monday, Dec. 20. Prosecutors said the defendant and her boyfriend physically and mentally abused the little girl on a regular basis. Witnesses told investigators that the defendant would often push the victim’s head into the wall.
The 34-year-old woman from Kansas, Jacqulyn Kirkpatrick, must serve 376 months in prison for the death of 3-year-old Olivia Jansen, who was beaten to death and left in a shallow grave last year, according to reports.
Last month, the 35-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and abuse of a child under the age of six. She also pleaded guilty to two counts of interfering with law enforcement. Under the terms of her deal, the woman must testify against the victim’s father, Howard Jansen.
Her ex-boyfriend is still awaiting trial on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated endangering of a child under 18, and criminal desecration of a dead body, according to reports.
The 35-year-old defendant and the victim’s father falsely reported Olivia missing on July 10, 2020. They reportedly called the authorities and told them that they woke up two hours earlier to find the little girl missing and the back door of their house had been left wide open.
The responding officers found the victim’s body buried in a shallow grave less than a mile from their home. The 3-year-old girl reportedly had severe bruising on her face, arms, and legs, as well as lacerations on the back of her head, all of which appeared to be indicative of physical abuse.
An autopsy determined her death to be a homicide caused by a severe brain bleed. Prosecutors said the defendant and Jansen physically and mentally abused the little girl on a regular basis. Witnesses told investigators that “the defendant would often push Olivia’s head into the wall.” Prosecutors also said Olivia was forced to be inside of a dog cage during her abuse, according to reports.
Elisabeth Jansen, Olivia’s grandmother, on June 22, 2020 reportedly contacted the Kansas Department for Children and Families to report allegations that Olivia’s caregivers were abusing drugs. An agent spoke to Olivia on June 30 and on July 7, her father tested positive for THC, but the agency said there wasn’t sufficient evidence for authorities to take Olivia out of his custody.