A Minnesota father will serve five years in jail after allegedly starving his 7-year-old daughter to death and neglecting her in “nearly every way,” according to the US Attorney’s Office.
According to prosecutors, Julius Fineday, Sr., 42, “willfully deprived” his daughter Jewel Sky Fineday of food, health care, and other essential needs from January 1 till her death on Christmas Day 2022. According to Chief Judge Patrick J. Schlitz, Jewel was “not just thin, but skeletal” when she died, despite her father’s ability to feed her.
Prosecutors say Jewel died from starvation and a Group A Streptococcal infection induced by mistreatment. She had head lice, and her father stopped her from attending school, where she could have received food. He also did not take her to the doctor for three years, except for COVID immunizations, for which the family received financial incentives, according to prosecutors.
On March 25, Fineday pleaded guilty to one count of criminal child neglect, causing a child’s death. In April, a jury convicted his co-defendant, Jewel’s grandmother, Sharon Rosebear. She is awaiting sentencing.
Schlitz said he could have issued a harsher term but did not since Fineday accepted responsibility for his acts by pleading guilty and demonstrating “sincere remorse,” prosecutors claimed. He clarified, “Neglecting or abusing a child will result in negative consequences not only for the child but also the responsible adult.” Schlitz encouraged parents to “pick up the phone” and seek help.
Jewel was given the Native American name Miikawaddizimikinaakikezens, which translates as Beautiful Turtle Girl, according to her obituary. She loves watching TikTok videos and playing hide and seek.
“Jewel was a very quiet girl and when Grandpa would sing and beat his drum, she would dance hard and outdance all the other kids,” according to the funeral home.
The case was handled by federal prosecutors because the offense took place on a Native American tribe.
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