Texas mom sentenced to life in jail for murder of daughter who she left to go to party

A mum has pleaded guilty to murdering her seven-year-old bedridden daughter who she allegedly left home alone to attend a party.

Lauren Kay Dean, from Texas, pleaded guilty to capital murder on Wednesday (5 October) and was sentenced to life in prison in connection to the death of her daughter, Jordynn Barrera, who was seven.

She was also sentenced to a further 20 years for two counts of abandonment and endangering a child, KTRK reports.

Bay City, Texas Police Department

The criminal complaint states the mum-of-three left her children, including her seven-year-old daughter who had medical conditions, at home alone so she could go to the local Shade’s Bar.

Bay City police, who are based around 80 miles southwest of Houston, responded to conduct a welfare check at the mum’s apartment at approximately 2.36pm on 31 January 2020.

According to the complaint, the then-26-year-old mum had returned from partying when law enforcement officers arrived at the apartment. She invited them inside to show that her children were OK, however upon entering the family’s residence, the officers found Jordynn deceased.

Jordynn had been left alone with her two siblings; a five-year-old and a three-month-old, who were also found at the apartment and removed from the home.

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A statement released on Facebook by the Bay City Police in February 2020 said: “Bay City Police Officers were summoned to an apartment in the 2200 Block of Bordeaux in Bay City, on January 31, 2020 at approximately 2:36 p.m. in reference to a welfare check. During the check, officers located a deceased seven (7) year old female child inside the residence along with the mother of the child. The seven (7) year old child was bedridden due to medical conditions.

“Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators worked together at the scene gathering evidence.”

Dean was at first booked into Matagorda County Jail on three separate, second-degree felony charges of the abandonment and endangerment of a child, which placed them in imminent danger of bodily injury.

KTRK reported the criminal report stated Barrera had Down's syndrome and cerebral palsy and was non-communicative. She required a feeding tube and round-the-clock care.

Prosecutors said that the young girl died because her mother left her home alone to go out partying and therefore failing to prove her with the necessary medical care she needed to survive.

The Bay City Tribune reports Dean pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 8am–10pm Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm weekends. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111