Disclaimer: The details of this case are extremely graphic.

A Missouri mother finds herself behind bars, held on a million dollar bond, after giving her four-month-old daughter to her boyfriend last December – for sex.

Jessica Lynn Howell, 25, knew that her boyfriend, Jordan Lafayette Prince, 24, was a convicted pedophile after finding out through an internet search. Howell had even discussed his convictions for a sexual offense against a minor with him. She started sending him text messages that the complaint and probable cause statement filed by the police says “suggested a willingness to allow him to have sexual relations” with her four-month-old baby, Ashlynn. He, unsurprisingly, took her up on her offer, and in December of 2012, Howell and her baby stayed the night at his home, and she was present when he did what he did to her daughter.

For what Prince did to that innocent four-month-old baby, there are no words. The baby girl died an agonizing death. Prince beat her viciously, as evidenced by the blunt force trauma that caused hemorrhaging. He sexually assaulted her, inflicting such massive damage to her bladder, uterus, and anus, that the injuries are believed to be enough to have eventually led to her death had Prince not strangled her to death first.

Prince is currently being held on a cash-only bond while awaiting trial for charges of 1st degree murder, forcible sodomy, and child abuse. Howell is facing second degree murder and child abuse charges.

I have never been a big believer in the death penalty. I have always felt that death is just too easy for these offenders, the worst of the worst. Cases such as these reinforce that belief. A painless death is just too good for them. Let them suffer–in general population. That situation will correct itself quickly and at little cost to the taxpayer.

Of course, a case such as this is not exclusive to this century. I have noticed, however, that it seems to be in the news more often. For example, ABC News reported back in July of last year that a South African man was sentenced to life in prison for mercilessly raping a nine-month-old baby. An Ohio man was recently in the news for unashamedly asking for mercy after being convicted of raping and murdering a six-month-old baby. His reason? He intended to rape her, but not kill her. In Ohio, it’s the difference between life in prison and the death penalty.

I can’t help but wonder, is this what our “rape culture” has come to–mothers handing over their children to be raped? Sick men thinking that a baby is a suitable target for their cruel, inhumane fantasies? Is this yet another sick manifestation of the desensitization to rape that our society has obviously undergone?

I don’t know.

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