ANDERSON — A Madison County jury Wednesday recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole for Ryan Ramirez, the man convicted this week in the murder of a toddler.
Jurors came to their conclusion quickly, one day after finding Ramirez guilty. The actual sentencing takes place March 24.
Ramirez was convicted on all counts in the death of his girlfriend's 23-month-old daughter and the neglect of her three-year-old son.
Little Paisley Hudson died during the summer of 2018 from a blow to the head, and liver injuries, according to the Madison County Coroner. The little boy suffered serious injuries, but survived.
26-year-old Kayla Hudson, the girlfriend and mother of the children, pleaded guilty to a pair of neglect charges last year and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Hudson told investigators that she had gone to work in the evening of July 27, 2018 and left her children in the care of Ramirez.
Hudson said she got off work, came home and put the children to bed. She said she then went to a store to buy "creams" to cover bruises on her son's face.
Hudson told investigators that after her daughter had been "sleeping" for nearly seven hours, she became worried and went back to check on her. That's when she found the toddler face down and unresponsive. Paisley was pronounced dead at St. Vincent Anderson Hospital.
Meanwhile, the three-year-old son was taken to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis when doctors at the Anderson hospital noted he was covered in bruises. According to court documents, doctors at Riley found the little boy to be malnourished with numerous cuts, bruises. fractures and cigarette burns on his ankles.
Investigators interviewed Ramirez's two children, ages eight and ten, and were told that their father often hit Paisley.
