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Shu Feng Hsu was sentenced on one count of involuntary manslaughter for the death of her 11-month-old niece Chloe Chen on Thursday, March 30, the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office reports. Hsu was found guilty of manslaughter only a week prior.
The Quincy woman was babysitting Chloe for several hours at their family home on Sewall Street when she called police saying the baby was in distress around 4:30 p.m. on February 15, 2018, according to court documents.
Chloe was brought the hospital where she appeared to have a light bruise on her head and seizures. A CT scan revealed the infant had severe bleeding inside her head and was admitted for emergency surgery, court documents said.
Chloe remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) before she was taken off life support two days later, court documents said. An autopsy revealed that Chloe died from infliction of trauma, including to her head, the DA's Office reports. Chloe's neurosurgeon said the infant's injuries were contingent with ones that someone would sustain in a 40-mph car crash, court documents said.
“While the jury did not find the evidence to prove every of element of murder beyond a reasonable doubt, Hsu stands convicted of this homicide,” District Attorney Michael Morrissey said. “Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in state prison.”
Investigators later listened to audio recordings that captured the sound of Chloe crying from her room followed by multiple thuds over a two-minute period, court documents read. Chloe then fell silent. These recordings were timed just minutes before Hsu called 911, court documents said.
Prosecutors originally asked for Hsu to receive a sentence of 15-18 years, but her sentencing was imposed nunc pro tunc (Latin for “Now for Then”) to November 20, 2018, the DA's Office said.
This means that those 5-7 years will be calculated at the end of Hsu's sentence since she has been in pre-trial custody since 2018, the DA's Office said. Hsu will be taken to MCI Framingham later Thursday to serve out her sentence, the DA's Office concluded.
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