Ohio Mom and Ex Guilty of Murdering Baby Elaina; Community Holds Final Vigil
Baby Elaina Steinfurth was murdered in June, and this week her mother and mother's boyfriend were sentenced to serious time in prison for the murder. Steven King will serve at least 25 years for his role in the murder, while Angela Steinfurth has been sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.
The case shocked the Toledo, Ohio area where the family lived, as well as the rest of the nation as the search for the toddler lasted from June until September. In a deal with prosecutors, King led police to the location of Elaina's remains. Her arms and legs had been broken and she was stuffed into a box located in the attic of a garage.
King told prosecutors he found Elaina seriously injured and tried performing CPR, but blood came out of her mouth and nose. He then covered her mouth and nose until she stopped breathing. Steinfurth, prosecutors alleged, threw Elaina across her bedroom in order to have relations with King. The little girl had a bump on her head, a black eye, and bloody nostrils.
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"There is no place on Earth for this type of behavior," Judge Gary Cook told Steinfurth before sentencing. She reportedly sobbed the entire time she was in court. King, however, having made a deal with prosecutors, told the court his version of events.
"Are you satisfied with this sanitized version?" Judge Ruth Ann Franks asked prosecutors. When they responded positively, King was formally sentenced.
Meanwhile, the community and family gathered for one final vigil to say goodbye to Elaina.
"It's not the outcome I had hoped for," Elaina's father, TJ Steinfurth told ABC, "but it's some sort of justice. She's still not going to be back and it's hard. But we've got to try and move forward from here."
"I just hope Elaina rests in peace," her grandfather Terry added. "I hope she is glad we got her justice."
