Sentenced: Smutz Said His Life Had Been Ruined Since He Murdered 14MO Adalynn

[Sugar Cookie]

Justin Smutz has been found guilty of manslaughter and second-degree child abuse in the death of his 14-month-old daughter, who drowned while unattended in a bathtub.

Circuit Judge Timothy Hicks ordered Smutz's bond revoked and ordered him to jail until sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

Adalynn Grace Smutz died on March 25, 2016, while in the bathtub with her 2-year-old half-brother. Smutz told authorities he had left the children unattended for a few minutes while he had gone out to his car to look for a cigarette, leaving his 8-year-old son in charge.

For manslaughter, Matt Roberts, chief trial attorney for the Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office had to prove Smutz acted in a "grossly negligent manner." For second-degree child abuse, the prosecutor needed to prove Smutz engaged in a "reckless act" with "indifference to the circumstance."


During his testimony Wednesday, Sept. 19, Smutz said he routinely left the two younger children strapped in their highchairs while he napped, sometimes for as long as an hour and a half.

He also said he regularly left the two younger children in the bathtub for a half hour while he cleaned his room or did other things around the house.

He also regularly slept while the two younger children played in the bedroom, Smutz testified.

The trial included 2 1/2 days of testimony, much of it by police officers who described the chaotic scene in the Spring Street home. One said that after helping try to revive Adalynn, who was pronounced dead at the scene, he discovered that the 2-year-old boy was still in the tub.

Adalynn's mother, Rhonda Smutz, testified that she believed the incident was an accident, but was angry that her ex-husband wouldn't accept responsibility or apologize.

The 2-year-old boy had been found wandering in the street twice in the days preceding Adalynn's death, according to a police detective's sworn statement. On the second occasion, just a day before Adalynn's death, the boy was found two blocks from their home, and it took police 45 minutes to locate Smutz who was supposed to be watching the children, according to a court petition.

When Justin Smutz took the stand in court Tuesday, he said his life had been ruined since he was charged with the murder for Adalynn's death.

"Now my kids are gone, my wife is gone, my house is gone," Smutz said. "I can't work, I can't think, I can't breathe."

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2018/09/father_found_guilty_in_bathtub.html

 

[Keepalowprofile]

. I can't think, I can't breathe."

Neither can your baby you dumbass.

 

[Brillig]

The bastard only cares about himself. I'm glad his life is ruined.

 

[Sejanus]

Leave him alone in a room with a loaded gun.

 

[LFODBiker]

What a fucking schmuck. Just for once in his pathetic life he needs to man-up and take responsibility for himself.

Thank the gods for stupid people: Amusingly he turned down a sweetheart plea deal that would have let him out with time served.

I want a really good belly laugh when the sentence is passed. Is that too much to ask for?

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Oct. 31, 2018

A Muskegon man is facing at least eight years in prison for his 14-month-old daughter's drowning in a bathtub in 2016.

Justin Smutz, 35, was unapologetic when addressing the court at Wednesday's sentencing hearing in Muskegon Circuit Court.

Smutz was bathing his daughter Adalynn and her older sibling in March 2016 when he left the house to smoke a cigarette. The girl was dead when he returned.

Smutz addressed the court Wednesday, admitting that leaving the children unattended was wrong. He then blamed police for his conviction, saying they had manipulated the jury.

The judge rejected Smutz's arguments, sentencing him to between eight and 22 and a half years in prison. The sentence was enhanced due to his prior, unrelated conviction for domestic violence.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/lo...gon-dad-daughter-bathtub-drowning/1834689002/

 

[Craygor]

Smutz ... admitting that leaving the children unattended was wrong ... then blamed police for his conviction, saying they had manipulated the jury.

Justin "Yea, I'm all sorry and shit for leaving the brat alone in the tub, I just think its fucked up that the police manipulated the jury by telling them that" Smutz

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Adalynn Grace Smutz
March 21, 2015 - May 25, 2016

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Name: JUSTIN DOUGLAS SMUTZ

Current Status: Prisoner

Earliest Release Date: 01/10/2025

Maximum Discharge Date: 07/10/2039

Offense:

Homicide - Involuntary Manslaughter Min Sent. 8 Years Max Sent. 22 years 6 months

Sentence 1

Offense:

Child Abuse, 2nd Degree Min Sent. 2 Years Max Sent. 6 Years

 

[BuffettGirl]

He should also be forced to change his surname to Putz...