A Pennsylvania man received a prison sentence last week for helping his girlfriend kill her 18-month-old daughter in 2021. Maurice Davis, 34, was sentenced to 24 and a half to 50 years after pleading no contest to related charges. The child, Li'Aziah Thomas, died from blunt force trauma.
Davis and Kandie Meinhart, also 34, fatally beat the girl inside their shared apartment in Chester. Li'Aziah was found cold with no pulse and rigor mortis on January 20, 2021. She had knuckle marks on her body and internal injuries including lacerations to her liver and adrenal gland. Meinhart received a 30- to 60-year sentence in July 2024 after pleading guilty to third-degree murder and other charges. Prosecutors said Davis weakened the child through his actions and remained in the conspiracy. At Davis' sentencing, Delaware County First Assistant District Attorney Kristen Kemp told the court that the baby would have been finishing first grade if she had survived. Davis told the court he was sorry but could not explain what happened. Three other children in the home were also abused, according to prosecutors.