In Loving Memory of Hannah Kent: Justice Served in the Tragic Loss of Columbia Infant

In Loving Memory of Hannah Kent: Justice Served in the Tragic Loss of Columbia Infant 🕊️

Columbia, Missouri — A profound sense of sorrow still surrounds the memory of precious Hannah Kent, the bright-eyed 8-month-old whose life was tragically cut short in April 2021. Though years have passed, the pain of her loss remains deeply felt by her family and the community that mourned alongside them.

On February 23, 2026, in a Boone County courtroom, justice reached a solemn milestone. Boone County Judge Brouck Jacobs sentenced Jennifer Johnson, 49, to life in prison for Hannah’s murder, along with 15 years for each count of child endangerment. Johnson had been found guilty on January 8 of second-degree felony murder and two counts of first-degree child endangerment.

For Hannah’s loved ones, the sentencing marked the end of a long and painful chapter — one defined by grief, courtroom testimony, and the search for answers no parent should ever have to seek.

During closing arguments, prosecutor Risa Perkins told jurors that Johnson was the only person who could have inflicted the fatal injuries. She pointed to inconsistencies in Johnson’s statements following the infant’s death. According to trial testimony, Johnson claimed she had been asleep from 9 p.m. until midnight on April 18, 2021, while babysitting Hannah. However, prosecutors highlighted alleged contradictions, including questions about phone activity during those hours, the presence of blood on Johnson’s clothing, and why Hannah’s clothes had been changed while under her care.

The defense, led by attorney Manuel Tatayon, argued that reasonable doubt remained. Tatayon suggested that Hannah’s injuries could have occurred while she shared a bed with her 2-year-old and 3-year-old siblings. He also contended that Johnson may have been intermittently sleeping between periods of phone use that night.

At the heart of the trial was medical testimony detailing the devastating injuries suffered by the infant. Dr. Carl Stacy, the pathologist who conducted Hannah’s autopsy, testified that he observed multiple areas of trauma across her small body — bruising to her head, chest, abdomen, and back. His findings painted a heartbreaking picture of the harm endured by a child who was unable to speak for herself.

Body camera footage from Turner Schuster, shown to jurors during the trial, captured Johnson telling officers that Hannah had been healthy when she put her to bed at 2:15 a.m. The next reported sighting of Hannah came at 6 a.m., when she was discovered bruised and cold to the touch.

Hannah’s mother, Lanetta Hill, bravely testified during the proceedings. Through unimaginable heartbreak, she described returning home to find her baby unresponsive and injured. She attempted CPR before rushing Hannah to the hospital, where medical staff, including a nurse who also testified, fought desperately to save the infant’s life. Despite their efforts, Hannah could not be revived.

Family members, including Hill’s sister, took the stand to recount the devastating morning and the aftermath that forever changed their lives. Their testimony was filled with anguish — but also love — for a child remembered as joyful, innocent, and deeply cherished.

Hannah Kent’s life, though brief, left an indelible mark. She was a daughter, a sister, and a beloved child whose smile brought warmth to her family’s home. In honoring her memory, loved ones remember the sound of her laughter, the softness of her tiny hands, and the promise of a future that was never given the chance to unfold.

While the court’s sentence brings a measure of legal closure, it cannot restore what was lost. It cannot erase the quiet ache that lingers in a mother’s heart or the empty space at family gatherings. But it does stand as a declaration that Hannah’s life mattered — that her story was heard, and that accountability was pursued with determination.

In loving memory of Hannah Kent — a precious soul gone too soon. May her memory be a reminder of the responsibility we all share to protect the most vulnerable among us. May her family continue to find strength in one another, and may Hannah’s light, though brief, continue to shine in the hearts of those who loved her. 🕊️