After an emotionally charged hearing on Monday that often brought people in the courtroom to tears, Taylor Fast, 23, of Festus was sentenced to 27 years in prison in connection with the death of her baby daughter and injuries to her young son in 2015.
Jefferson County Div. 5 Circuit Judge Victor Melenbrink handed out the sentence after about six hours of arguments and testimony at the Jefferson County Courthouse.
Fast pleaded guilty Aug. 17 to first-degree abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, a class A felony, in connection with the death of her daughter, Layla Fast-Evans, 19 months, and to endangering the welfare of a child, a class C felony, in connection with injuries to her then 3-year-old son who suffered a broken leg and other injuries.
Melenbrink sentenced Fast to 27 years for the class A felony and to seven years for the class C felony, to be served concurrently, or at the same time. Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Marie Pudlowski said she recommended the 27-year sentence – 20 years for the crime, plus one year for every day Layla suffered after her injury without medical care until her death.
Melenbrink followed assistant Pudlowski’s recommendation for the sentence over defense attorney Joseph Collier’s recommendation for a 10-year sentence for the class A felony and for four years for the class C felony.
The judge, who returned to the courtroom with his decision about 10 minutes after closing arguments, said a particular text message that Fast had sent and that Pudlowski entered into evidence weighed in his decision. In the text, sent the week before Layla died, Fast said she was “waiting for the swelling to go down” on the baby’s face before taking her for treatment so medical personnel couldn’t accuse her of abuse.
The judge said the text indicated Fast made a conscious decision to wait to take Layla for treatment. An autopsy later revealed the baby died of an infection – sepsis – that could have been treated with antibiotics had the baby received prompt medical attention.
Pudlowski introduced numerous texts Fast sent during the week, including one stating that Layla “looks like death.” Pudlowski said that even though Fast observed her daughter’s poor condition, she did not take Layla for medical treatment.
Throughout the hearing, Pudlowski repeatedly asserted it was Fast’s neglect and own personal interest that led to the baby’s death and a delay in treatment for the boy, who survived and is now in foster care.
Collier said mitigating factors, including Fast’s drug addiction, abusive boyfriend and her own rough upbringing as a child, should be considered and recommended the lesser sentence. He presented evidence indicating Fast suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
He repeatedly brought up Fast’s then-boyfriend, DeWayne Boyer, who was sentenced April 24 to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree abuse or neglect of a child – serious or emotional or physical injury, for injuring Layla’s brother.
During the hearing, the prosecution presented nine witnesses. The defense presented three: Fast’s cellmate in the Jefferson County Jail; Fast’s mother; and Fast herself.
One of the prosecution’s more compelling witnesses, licensed professional counselor Kristen Charlesworth, said she worked with Layla’s brother after his injuries and his sister’s death, and he seemed extremely introverted at that point. Charlesworth said the boy would play doctor using a pillow he called “Layla,” and he would try to save it. The story moved several in the crowd of 30 or so people to tears, one of the many times people in the courthouse gasped and wept.
Charlesworth said the boy showed little signs of interest in Fast.
“He never asked about her,” Charlesworth said.
Among the other witnesses for the prosecution were two physicians – Dr. Ann Dimaio, pediatrics emergency physician at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Gershom Norfleet, assistant medical examiner for the St. Louis County Medical Examiner’s Office. Both said prompt medical care could have saved Layla.
During her testimony, Fast, in a soft voice, expressed her sorrow and grief and said she wishes she could change what happened.
“I wish I could have done things differently,” she said.
Layla’s paternal grandmother, Kathy Evans of Hillsboro, who testified about the impact of her loss during the hearing, praised Melenbrink’s decision and Pudlowski’s work on the case, and said her family’s grief will never end.
“It’s a little relief,” she said moments after the judge’s decision. “It’s like justice is not fully served, but I’m happy about (the sentence). Marie did an awesome job. I think Marie was compelling. She laid it all on the line, no holds barred. I just want to thank the judge for making the right decision.”
Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Forrest Wegge agreed with Evans’ assessment.
“I’m extremely pleased with the sentence,” Wegge said. “I commend all the hard work Marie put into the case. I hope today’s sentence brings some closure to the victims’ family.”
Wegge reported that on Aug. 17, Fast made an “open plea,” meaning there was no plea agreement and the court had discretion in sentencing.
The penalty for a class A felony is 10 to 30 years or life in prison, while a class C felony is punishable by up to seven years.
Facts of the case
Police reported that emergency personnel responded to an 8:20 a.m. call on April 19, 2015, about an unresponsive child at the Festus Gardens apartment complex in the 200 block of Timberwyck. Fast told officers her daughter had been bitten by a spider and was unconscious, Festus Police Chief Tim Lewis reported.
The baby was found dead at the apartment with “severe injuries to her face and neck and bruising over most of her body,” Lewis said in an Aug. 20, 2015, Leader story.
Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District personnel arrived and told officers the child had been dead for several hours. Fast told authorities she did not know what had happened to her daughter throughout the night, Lewis said.
When authorities responded to the call about Layla, they also discovered that Fast’s son had a broken leg.
According to the probable-cause statement in Boyer’s case, Fast told police her son had been limping for two to three days and that her boyfriend had hurt him. She acknowledged that she did not seek medical attention for her son or report the possible child abuse, the report said.
The Medical Examiner reported that the baby had blunt trauma to her face, which occurred more than a week before she was found dead. The Medical Examiner also said the girl received no medical treatment for those injuries, and her “condition worsened, eventually resulting in death,” the probable-cause statement said.
Fast was initially charged with a class C felony in connection with injuries to her son, but in August 2015, authorities upgraded charges against Fast after receiving the Medical Examiner’s Office report on Layla.