A controversial Indiana judge set an admitted child killer free on Thursday even though she confessed to smothering her two-month-old while high on meth. Dacia Lacey, 32, walked free after Judge Mark Stoner found her not guilty of neglect of a dependent.
Her daughter, Alona, died in 2022. Lacey could have served up to 40 years if convicted.
The judge already faced calls to resign after a recent ruling concerning a cop killer. He recently set loose a mentally ill man who shot and killed a police officer with only a sentence of time already served. The Indianapolis Retired Police Officer Association recently voted unanimously to demand that Stoner leave the bench.
Stoner inexplicably scolded the defendant while setting her free. “There are some things you can never do. You can never have sole possession of your children and go out and use drugs. You’re not innocent, but you’re not guilty of what the state has charged you with.”
He claimed there was no evidence to support the state’s charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death.
NEW: Indianapolis mother walks free after admitting to smothering her 2-month-old baby to death between two couch cushions while high on meth.
Judge Mark Stoner found Dacia Lacey not guilty of neglect resulting in death.
Lacey confessed that she wanted her daughter to stop… pic.twitter.com/YCe0Qcjagz
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 18, 2024
Stoner stated the obvious by noting that not every mistake is criminal. “Something has to be done with criminal intent and criminal responsibility, and that’s what the defendant is charged with.”
Lacey bowed her head when she heard the “not guilty” verdict.
Defense attorneys told the court that there was no evidence of neglect of the baby that signified long-term injuries — she was two months old. The pathologist was unable to provide a cause or manner of death.
Tests proved Lacey had meth in her system on the fateful day.
Stoner indicated that blame for his surprising decision should be laid at the feet of the prosecutor. “It’s important to understand that the prosecutor chooses the charges. It’s the prosecutor that’s elected. The prosecutor has a screening division to make decisions as to what should be charged.”
According to court records, Lacy told investigators in an extended confession how she smothered the infant while on meth.
She said she wanted the child to cease crying, which was interfering with her need to sleep.
It was revealed during testimony that Lacey’s other daughter, who was three years old when her sister died, saw her mother take a pillow and smother Alona.
