Woman sentenced in death of her 4-year-old girl

By Bob Brenzing, WXMI

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- (WXMI) -- A woman has been sentenced for the death of a four-year-old girl.

Desaray Thompson, 4, died in July 2017 from asphyxiation, while her mom, Kelly Ballinger, and her fiancé, Matthew Longenecker, smoked methamphetamine, according to prosecutors.

Both Ballinger and Longenecker were convicted of their crimes on March 28. Ballinger was convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter, Child Abuse, 1st degree and Possession of Methamphetamine. Longenecker was convicted of Murder, 1st degree, Child Abuse, 1st degree and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Ballinger was sentenced first. She was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for Involuntary Manslaughter and 21 1/4 to 50 years for Child Abuse. The judge said that he did not find that she had been remorseful over the death of Thompson.

Longenecker will be sentenced on May 7th and faces life in prison.

FULL STORY: Woman sentenced in death of her 4-year-old girl - WXMI