Bianca Bush, one of the three people involved in the death of a two year old child last year in Two Rivers, has been sentenced.
Judge Jerilyn Dietz, who conducted the sentencing hearing via Zoom, ruled that the 26 year old will spend a total of 7 years in prison, followed by 5 years of extended supervision.
Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre started off the hearing late Tuesday morning by speaking about how Bush, 28 year old David Heiden, and the child’s mother, 27 year old Rena Santiago treated the young boy. She told the court bluntly, “This child suffered, and lived in an environment not only of abuse, but of controlled substance, and prostitution that was going on in the home. This is a situation where he needed to be protected.”
LaBre and Defense Attorney Michael Turner came to a joint agreement to call for a sentence of three and a half years of incarceration, with 5 years of extended supervision.
Turner, during his statement to the court said that Bush’s case is different from that of Heiden and Santiago. He explained that Bush was the one who called the police when she came home to find the child already deceased.
Bush read a letter that she wrote to the court, saying “It is of my deepest sorrow and regret to be sitting in your courtroom today. I take full and complete responsibility for my lack of judgment and action that has broken the hearts of all the people involved, and ruined the lives of so many.”
After Hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Dietz made her decision. She decided against the joint recommended sentence from the state and the defense because, in her words, “I don’t think it addresses the needs here.”
Judge Dietz also pointed out that while Heiden was sentenced based on a single day of action, Bush is being sentenced based on several months of inaction.
Rena Santiago, the mother of the deceased child will be in Manitowoc County Court for her sentencing late next month.