In a shocking case from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a mother has been sentenced to a quarter-century behind bars for the murder of her young daughter. Henrietta Rogers, aged 48, was convicted of first-degree reckless homicide in May after a trial.
The case dates back to February 2022 when Rogers and her 10-year-old daughter, Jada Clay, had a disagreement over hair braiding. The argument took a deadly turn, and Jada’s older siblings found her lifeless body on the floor of her locked bedroom when they returned from school. They immediately called 911.
When police arrived at the scene, they determined that Jada had been dead for several hours. The prosecution painted a grim picture of the crime, describing strangulation as a “violently intimate offense” and pushed for a 30-year sentence for Rogers. The defense, however, argued for leniency, citing Rogers’ severe mental health issues.
Judge Mark Sanders, who presided over the case, handed down a 25-year prison sentence to Rogers. In addition to her time in prison, Rogers will be under extended supervision for 15 years and is required to undergo a mental health assessment during her probation. She is also required to find employment and was credited for time already served.
Sanders expressed his shock and dismay at the crime, stating, “Jada was old enough to recognize what was happening, and that realization must have made her last moments some of the most terrible I can imagine.”