A Sacramento County jury has found a mother guilty of second-degree murder following the tragic case of her 8-month-old daughter, whose severe injuries after a bath were left without professional medical treatment.
Kristina Huemann Siedlecki was convicted on October 1, 2026, after prosecutors presented evidence about what happened to her baby daughter, Jannah Ali Abughazaleh, in August 2024.
The conviction was announced by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office on October 5.
Siedlecki is scheduled to return to court on October 23 for sentencing. She faces a possible sentence of 15 years to life in state prison.
The case began on August 25, 2024, when Jannah, only 8 months old, became unresponsive at her family’s Sacramento County home.
According to prosecutors, the baby had suffered extensive burns after being placed in dangerously hot bathwater several days earlier.
The child’s father, Hussein Abughazaleh, was accused of placing Jannah in the water.
When Siedlecki arrived home, prosecutors said she saw her daughter’s skin turn red before it began peeling and blistering.
The injuries covered more than 30% of the baby’s body, extending from her back across her lower body and down the backs of her legs toward her heels.
The condition of the infant immediately became one of the central issues in the investigation.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, however, neither parent took Jannah to a hospital after the injuries occurred.
Instead, several days passed while the baby remained without professional medical treatment.
That decision eventually became a major part of the prosecution’s case against Siedlecki.
Investigators Found More Than An Accident
At first, the circumstances surrounding Jannah’s injuries were being investigated as a possible household incident involving bathwater.
But investigators later focused on what happened after the burns occurred.
Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Siedlecki’s phone contained internet searches indicating she understood that the baby’s injuries were serious and that medical treatment was necessary.
According to prosecutors, she did not seek medical assistance because she was afraid of being arrested.
That evidence became particularly important because the prosecution’s case was not simply about how Jannah was injured.
It was also about what happened afterward.
The prosecution argued that Siedlecki had enough information to understand the seriousness of her daughter’s condition, yet still failed to obtain emergency medical care.
The Final Hours Became A Key Part Of The Trial
On the morning of August 25, investigators said Siedlecki noticed that Jannah’s breathing had changed.
The baby eventually became limp and unresponsive.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, instead of immediately calling 911, Siedlecki went onto social media.
Her husband, meanwhile, contacted a friend for assistance approximately 45 minutes later.
Neither parent called 911, prosecutors said.
That timeline became one of the most significant pieces of the prosecution’s argument.
Prosecutors said the delay in obtaining medical treatment contributed directly to the infant’s condition becoming irreversible.
The medical evidence presented in the case showed that Jannah suffered complications connected to her extensive burns.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office ultimately argued that Siedlecki’s failure to obtain medical care was a central reason her daughter could not be saved.
The Father Was Also Charged
Siedlecki was not the only parent investigated.
Hussein Abughazaleh, Jannah’s father, was also arrested and accused of murder in connection with the case.
Investigators alleged that he had placed the baby into the dangerously hot bathwater.
However, he never went to trial.
After experiencing a serious medical emergency while in custody, Abughazaleh was released on compassionate grounds. He passed away shortly afterward.
His case therefore never reached the same courtroom stage as Siedlecki’s.
Siedlecki remained in custody while the case against her continued.
More than two years after the incident, her trial finally reached a verdict.
The Jury Reaches Its Decision
After hearing the evidence, a Sacramento County jury found Siedlecki guilty of second-degree murder.
The verdict was reached on October 1.
The District Attorney’s Office announced the conviction four days later, saying Siedlecki now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life.
Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 23 at Sacramento Superior Court.
The conviction represents a major turning point in a case that has remained unresolved since 2024.
But the story surrounding Jannah’s care began even before the bath incident.
Grandmother Says She Tried To Get Help
Jannah’s grandmother, Naomi Magness, previously spoke publicly about her concerns for the baby.
According to reporting by KCRA, Magness said she had worried about Jannah’s safety even before the child was born.
She said she contacted Child Protective Services because she wanted someone to check on the child’s welfare.
When she said she did not receive the response she expected, she contacted an abuse hotline, which ultimately connected her with law enforcement and the coroner’s office.
Those claims have raised broader questions about whether additional intervention might have been possible before the situation reached its final crisis.
Sacramento County officials have said they cannot confirm, deny or discuss specific reports involving the family because of legal and confidentiality requirements.
That means questions surrounding any previous reports remain separate from the criminal case against Siedlecki.
What Happens Next?
For now, the next major date in the case is October 23.
That is when Siedlecki is expected to learn the exact sentence imposed by the court following her second-degree murder conviction.
The jury has already made its decision regarding the criminal charges.
The sentencing will determine how that conviction translates into prison time.
The case has also highlighted a difficult issue surrounding vulnerable children: what happens when a serious injury occurs at home and the adults responsible for the child do not immediately seek professional help?
In Jannah’s case, prosecutors argued that the warning signs were impossible to ignore.
Her injuries were extensive, her condition continued to worsen, and evidence from her mother’s phone indicated that she understood the seriousness of the situation.
Yet medical help was delayed.
For Jannah’s family, the case has now reached a major legal milestone.
For the court, the focus will turn to sentencing.
And for investigators and prosecutors, the conviction closes one chapter of a case that began with an 8-month-old baby suffering severe injuries and has now resulted in a murder conviction against her mother.
Siedlecki will return to court on October 23, where the judge is expected to impose her sentence.
Until then, the case remains a reminder of how quickly a family emergency can become a major criminal investigation — and how important timely medical care can be when a young child suffers serious injuries.