Sosefina Amoa | Homicide Watch DC

Sosefina Amoa was Sentenced to Four Years for Killing Newborn Son

Kristian Hernandez — Fri, 23 May 2014 18:15:23 -0400

Judge, attorneys, and observers all waited in silence for two minutes before Sosefina Amoa’s sentencing Friday. Those two minutes represented how long it took Amoa to suffocate her newborn son to death, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Wright.

Amoa, 26, was sentenced to four years in prison and five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter in February. Amoa, who is originally from Samoa will also face deportation after her release.

During the sentencing hearing, Defense Attorney Judith Pipe asked the court to allow Amoa to go back to her family in Samoa and asked Judge Robert Morin to rule her sentence as time served.

“Of course this is a case that deserves punishment,” said Pipe, “but she will be punished by it every day of her life.”

Defense attorneys argued that Amoa was not consciously aware of her pregnancy and that in the “panic, shock and terror,” of her painful delivery, smothered her baby.

Prosecutors agree that Amoa was in denial of her pregnancy but said she made "conscious decisions" before and after giving birth to baby Amoa.

Wright said Amoa was "plagued by fear" of getting kicked out of the convent and denied help from one of the sisters when she was experiencing severe abdominal pains. Wright also argued that Amoa chose to have the baby by herself in her room and then lied about the dead baby once she was discovered.

"Of all the safest places for a pregnant young girl to be, [one] would be at the Little Sisters of the Poor convent," said Wright.

Medical examiners determined the infant was a fully developed, full-term baby, born alive. According to prosecutors there was evidence in the lungs that the baby had cried and had been alive before being asphyxiated. Additionally, there was bruising and scratches to the infant’s nostrils.

According to charging documents, Amoa told police that after killing the baby she kept him in her room at the convent for the rest of that day. Amoa said that during this time she contemplated throwing the baby into the trash until the following morning when she lied to a nun and said she had found the baby outside. She later confessed to killing the baby, according to prosecutors.

Before her sentence was delivered, Amoa, held back tears as read a letter she wrote to the judge.

“Even though there is no forgiveness for what I have done, I ask for your forgiveness,” said Amoa.

Below is a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office and sentencing documents.

District Woman Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
For Death of Infant Son at Northeast Washington Convent
Defendant Smothered Baby Shortly After Giving Birth

WASHINGTON – Sosefina Amoa, 26, formerly of Samoa, was sentenced today to four years in prison on a charge of voluntary manslaughter stemming from the death of her infant son at a convent in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Amoa pled guilty to the charge in February 2014 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. She was sentenced by the Honorable Robert E. Morin. Upon completion of her prison term, Amoa will be placed on five years of supervised release. She also is subject to deportation proceedings.

According to a proffer of facts presented at the plea hearing, Amoa arrived in the United States from Samoa on Oct. 5, 2013. She then entered a program to become a member of the Little Sisters of the Poor, an international congregation of Roman Catholic women who provide worldwide service to the elderly poor. She was considered a “Postulant,” a person who wanted to be admitted into a religious order. Amoa moved into the Little Sisters of the Poor’s convent in Northeast Washington, where she was to reside for five months while she received religious classes, learned doctrine, experienced prayer and community life, and cared for residents.

On Oct. 10, 2013, Amoa asked to be excused from her duties and went to her room. The baby was born in Amoa’s room that morning. Amoa cleaned the room in what authorities determined was an attempt to hide the birth of the child.

The following morning, Oct. 11, 2013, Amoa contacted one of the Sisters and took her to her room, where she showed her the baby. The Sister knew that the infant was dead.

Amoa gave conflicting accounts to the Sisters and police about what happened. Ultimately, on Oct. 16, 2013, she told detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) that, after she gave birth to the child, the baby fell to the floor. She said that she got on the floor next to the baby, not knowing what to do, and that she was afraid that someone would hear crying and learn of her pregnancy. According to Amoa, she then placed a wool garment over the baby’s nose and mouth and applied pressure with her hand for two to three minutes.

The District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was asphyxia. The infant was a fully developed, full-term baby, born alive. There was evidence in the lungs that the baby had cried and had been alive before being asphyxiated. Additionally, there was bruising and scratches to the infant’s nostrils.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation to the District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences for assistance in the investigation. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney, Victim/Witness Advocates Marcia Rinker and Lorraine Chase, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who prosecuted the case.

Sosefina Amoa Sentencing Docs (PDF)Sosefina Amoa Sentencing Docs (Text)

Mother Suspected of Smothering Newborn Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter

Megan Arellano — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:29:46 -0500

Sosefina Amoa, 26, pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter in the smothering death of her infant son. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors have agreed to drop an initial charge of first-degree murder.

Through her attorney Judith Pipe, Amoa said she never intended to harm her son. In a state of "pain, shock, fear," and the associated "tremendous pain and blood loss from a very difficult delivery," Amoa placed her hand over her baby's mouth "to quiet the baby so she could figure out what to do next," said Pipe.

According to the proffer of facts, an autopsy showed bruising and scratching around the baby's nostrils. The baby, Joseph Amoa, was born alive and breathing, weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces.

Prosecutors allege that Amoa killed her newborn son to hide her pregnancy from members of the religious order she was seeking to join.

"Mitigating circumstances do not rise to the level of legal defense," said Pipe, "But it is very important to Ms. Amoa to tell the court that she never intended to harm her child."

The proffer of facts states that on October 5, 2013, Amoa arrived in the United States from Samoa to begin a religious formation program with the “Little Sisters of the Poor” convent in Northeast DC. After her arrival, members of the convent noticed that Amoa had "difficulty kneeling," documents say.

On the morning of Oct. 10, Amoa asked to be excused to her room around 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. because she said she was having menstrual cramps. One of the nuns went to her room multiple times to offer her assistance or food, but Amoa refused. The nun observed saw Amoa was "sweaty and in pain" documents say.

According to the proffer of facts, Amoa gave birth around 11:00 a.m., standing on the floor while leaning on her bed. The baby fell straight down and struck the floor.

The proffer states that Amoa then lay next to the baby, but was afraid that someone would hear the child crying and learn of her pregnancy. She placed a black wool garment over the child’s nose and mouth, and applied pressure for two to three minutes. When she removed the garment from the child’s nose and mouth, and Amoa told police she knew the baby was dead, court documents say.

According to charging documents, Amoa told police she kept the child in her room at the convent for the rest of that day. Amoa said that during this time she contemplated throwing the baby into the trash until the following morning when she told a nun what had happened, court documents state.

Pipe said in court that the prosecution has allowed her to argue for a significantly lessened sentence for Amoa. The maximum penalty for voluntary manslaughter is 30 years in prison.

Amoa is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23.

A press release from the United States Attorney's Office is below. Plea documents have been added after the press release.

District Woman Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter In Death of Infant at Northeast Washington Convent
Admits Killing Child Shortly After Giving Birth

WASHINGTON – Sosefina Amoa, 26, formerly of Samoa, pled guilty today to a charge of voluntary manslaughter in the death of her infant son, who was born within a week after she moved into a convent in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Amoa pled guilty to the charge in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Robert E. Morin scheduled sentencing for May 23, 2014.

According to a proffer of facts presented at the plea hearing, Amoa arrived in the United States from Samoa on Oct. 5, 2013. She then entered a program to become a member of the Little Sisters of the Poor, an international congregation of Roman Catholic women who provide worldwide service to the elderly poor. She was considered a “Postulant,” a person who wanted to be admitted into a religious order. Amoa moved into the Little Sisters of the Poor’s convent in Northeast Washington, where she was to reside for five months while she received religious classes, learned doctrine, experienced prayer and community life, and cared for residents.

On Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, Amoa asked to be excused from her duties and went to her room. The baby was born in Amoa’s room that morning. Amoa cleaned the room in what authorities determined was an attempt to hide the birth of the child.

The following morning, Oct. 11, 2013, Amoa contacted one of the Sisters and took her to her room, where she showed her the baby. The Sister knew that the infant was dead.

Amoa gave conflicting accounts to the Sisters and police about what happened. Ultimately, on Oct. 16, 2013, she told detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) that, after she gave birth to the child, the baby fell to the floor. She said that she got on the floor next to the baby, not knowing what to do, and that she was afraid that someone would hear crying and learn of her pregnancy. According to Amoa, she then placed a wool garment over the baby’s nose and mouth and applied pressure with her hand for two to three minutes.

The District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was asphyxia. The infant was a fully developed, full-term baby, born alive. There was evidence in the lungs that the baby had cried and had been alive before being asphyxiated. Additionally, there was bruising and scratches to the infant’s nostrils.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation to the District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences for assistance in the investigation. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney, Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who is prosecuting the case.

Amoa, Sosefina Plea Documents (PDF)Amoa, Sosefina Plea Documents (Text)

Sosefina Amoa Remains Held in Connection With Death of Infant Son

Megan Arellano — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 15:21:38 -0400

Judge Robert Morin ruled Wednesday that Sosefina Amoa, the woman accused of killing her newborn child, will remain held after lawyers in the case waived Amoa's preliminary hearing. Amoa, 26, is charged with felony first-degree murder in the case.

Prosecutors allege that Amoa hid her pregnancy, lied about delivering her own baby, then lied when she said she found the child outside in the cold.

On October 11, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Amoa brought her unconscious infant son to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Charging documents state that an autopsy revealed the cause of death to be asphyxiation, and the death was ruled a homicide.

Documents say that Amoa told police she recently moved to the United States from Samoa to join the “Little Sisters of the Poor” convent in Northeast D.C. and become a nun. During her interview, Amoa told police she didn't know she was pregnant, but later said she didn't want anyone at the convent to know about her previous sexual encounters.

Both parties agreed to waive Tuesday's preliminary hearing, but Amoa's defense attorney, Judith Pipe, cautioned that the decision was "not in a concession in any way."

Pipe argued that Amoa should be part of a supervised release program. Pipe said in court that through contact with "the covenant and other people in the community," she found an apartment that Amoa would be "welcome to stay in."

Pipe promised that Amoa would surrender her passport, and noted that Amoa had limited means to leave the country. The risk that Amoa would not return to court could be "easily remedied," Pipe said.

Prosecutor Cynthia Wright countered that it's "clear that by killing her own child, something is wrong with her. The safety of the community is paramount."

Pipe disagreed, noting a "tremendous outpouring of support" for Amoa. She further argued that Amoa's videotaped interview may rely on "questionable tactics" and "a language barrier."

"Even if [the allegations are] true, there are lots of facts to suggest that she's not responsible for her actions." Pipe said.

Judge Morin explained that his ruling was based on the affidavit, which "establishes substantial probability that the defendant committed the offenses which she was accused of doing." As a result, Judge Morin found "no conditions or accommodations that will protect the safety of the community."

Amoa wept quietly during the hearing. She remains held pending a status hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on November 21.

Sosefina Amoa Held in Death of Infant Son

Ivan Natividad — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:54:54 -0400

Sosefina Amoa, the woman accused of killing her newborn child, was ordered held Friday after a judge found probable cause that she fatally suffocated her infant son. Amoa, 26, remains held pending a preliminary hearing December 3.

On October 11 at approximately 11:00 a.m. Amoa brought her unconscious infant son to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be asphyxiation, and the death was ruled a homicide. Several days later Amoa was arrested and charged with first-degree felony murder in the death of her child.

Charging documents say Amoa may have waited an entire day before telling anyone she had given birth.

In an interview with police, Amoa said that she had recently moved to the United States from her home country, Samoa, to become a nun with the "Little Sisters of the Poor" convent in Northeast D.C., documents say.

On the morning of Oct. 10, Amoa said she experienced significant abdominal pain and bleeding and that it "felt like something was coming out of her stomach." Amoa said she stood on the floor while leaning on her bed, and the baby "came out," falling straight down and striking the floor, she told police, according to court documents.

Amoa said she then fell to the ground and lay next to the baby, but was afraid that someone would hear the child crying and learn of her pregnancy. She placed a black wool garment over the child's nose and mouth, and applied pressure for two to three minutes. When she removed the garment from the child's nose and mouth, the child was not breathing, and she told police she knew the baby was dead, court documents say.

According to charging documents, Amoa told police she kept the child in her room at the convent for the rest of that day. Amoa said that during this time she contemplated throwing the baby into the "rubbish," until the following morning came and she told a nun what had happened, court documents state.

The child was placed in a black luggage bag and transported with Amoa to Providence Hospital Emergency room. An autopsy found bruising on the child's nose. Doctors believed the child to be a full-term pregnancy, documents say.

Amoa initially told police she didn't know she was pregnant, the documents say, but later told police she knew about her pregnancy but didn't want anyone at the convent to know about her previous sexual encounters. Amoa told police she wanted to name the child "Joseph."

She remains held pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 3.

Charging documents have been added below.

Amoa, Sosefina Charging Papers (PDF)Amoa, Sosefina Charging Papers (Text)

DC Woman Arrested in Asphyxiation Death of Baby Boy

Laura Amico — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 09:21:53 -0400

A 26-year-old DC woman has been arrested in connection with the death of an infant, who was brought unconscious to a local hospital on Friday.

The baby boy, who was not identified by police, was pronounced dead the same day. Medical examiners have determined the case of death to be asphyxiation and the case has been ruled a homicide.

The woman, Sosefina Amoa of Northeast DC, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first degree felony murder in connection with the case. Police did not say what her relationship with the infant was.

WJLA reports that the hospital was Little Sisters of the Poor.

The Washington Post reports that Amoa is the mother of the child.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

October 16, 2013

Arrest Made in Homicide: 4200 Block of Harewood Road, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced an arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 4200 block of Harewood Road NE.

On Friday, October 11, 2013 at approximately 11:00 am, a woman brought an unconscious infant male to a local hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. His remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where an autopsy was performed to determine the cause and manner of death.

On Wednesday, October 16, 2013, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the Cause of Death to be Asphyxiation and the Manner Homicide.

On Wednesday, October 16, 2013, members of the Homicide Branch, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant, arrested the mother of the infant, 26 year-old Sosefina Amoa of Northeast, Washington, DC. She was charged with First Degree Felony Murder in the death of the infant.