On May 29, 2024, Shamonica Jackson, 39, was sentenced to 60 years in prison for her role in the 2018 death of 2-year-old Aniyah Darnell. Jackson pled guilty to injury to a child causing serious bodily injury.
Jackson and her then-boyfriend, Derick Roberson, 42, had custody of Aniyah from August 2018 until her death in November 2018. They were taking care of the child with the consent of her mother. During this period, Aniyah was subjected to severe physical abuse, including belt spankings, leaving her body covered with bruises and burns.
On November 17, 2018, Arlington Police Officers responded to an apartment complex where Aniyah was found unresponsive, dehydrated, and with severe injuries. She was pronounced dead the same day at Medical City Arlington.
Jackson violated her bond twice, fleeing to Louisiana where she was apprehended both times by the U.S. Marshal's Task Force.
Assistant District Attorney Bill Vassar prosecuted the case.
Roberson was given probation previously for his role in allowing the abuse. He had been tried for murder in 2022, but that case ended in a mistrial.
