Syied Epps, 31, was sentenced this week to 25 years in prison for the 2023 murder of his 9-month-old daughter Sykia Epps in Lexington.
Epps pleaded guilty in May to one count of murder via domestic violence. Prosecutors dropped a persistent felony offender charge as part of the plea deal. The incident took place on July 26, 2023, at a residence on Whitney Avenue.
Sykia Epps died days later from severe brain trauma. Other children in the home witnessed the abuse, according to testimony from Detective Paul Hogan.
During the hearing, Epps apologized and called his actions a mistake. Sykia's mother, Markettia Epps, rejected the apology and said the sentence was too lenient.