Man convicted of murder in death of newborn daughter

05/12/2004

Associated Press

A man knew too much about the killing of his newborn daughter after her remains
were discovered not to have been involved, a Pierce County Superior Court jury
has decided.

Jason Stensrud, 25, of Belfair, looked surprised, then sighed as he was
convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder, first-degree criminal mistreatment
and removal or concealment of a body.

His statements to police loomed large in deliberations that began Monday, juror
Kathey Brittain of Tacoma told prosecutors.

"Jason proved the case for you," Brittain said.

Evidence showed Stensrud's girlfriend, Jessica Dearinger, 19 at the time, gave
birth to a girl on May 7, 2001, in the bathroom of her parents' home in Tacoma.
An autopsy showed the baby, which had a high level of methamphetamine from her
mother's drug use, had been suffocated.

Dearinger pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of controlled substances homicide,
meaning her drug use led to the baby's death, and is serving a prison term of
more than four years.

Stensrud, who rejected a similar plea agreement, was portrayed by prosecutors
as a Satanist and drug abuser who wanted to be rid of the baby.

He maintained that Dearinger smothered the infant while he was in another room
but acknowledged that he kept the body in the trunk of his car for two days and
left the remains in a shed in neighboring Mason County.

Defense lawyers said Stensrud believed Dearinger had agreed they would take the
baby to a hospital and give her up for adoption, but jurors noted that in a
taped statement to police the defendant described Dearinger holding her hand
over the baby's mouth.

Jurors concluded that Stensrud was guilty as an accomplice to an intentional
killing and that he denying his child basic necessities of life.

Stensrud's father wept when the verdict was announced.

"This is so unfair," said Stensrud's mother, Mary Stensrud. "Jessica kills my
granddaughter and admits it. She gets off scot-free, and he's facing 20 years."

Or longer. Deputy prosecutors Hugh Birgenheier and Alicia Burton said might
seek a prison term exceeding the 20 years indicated by state guidelines when he
is sentenced June 18.

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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown