Gardipee sentenced to 13 years in toddler death

Cecilia Rose Gardipee will spend the next 13 years and four months in prison for her role in the death of Kaidynce Small on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation Oct. 21, days before his first birthday.

U.S. District Judge Brian Morris imposed the same sentence as he did on Small’s father, Garrett “Kirby” Lafromboise.

Kaidynce’s mother, her father and her her aunt all asked Morris to impose a life sentence, with his mother, Jasmine Small, saying she wanted to see both come out of prison in a body bag.

Gardipee and Lafromboise both pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and charges of second degree murder were dismissed as part of their plea agreements. Lafromboise admitted sticking his finger down his son’s throat and hitting him in the stomach; Gardipee admitted to shaking the toddler for 90 seconds after covering his mouth and nose trying to get him to stop crying.

Morris said, noting the investigation into Kaidynce’s death did not begin until a month after his death, that he had no evidence showing Gardipee or Lafromboise was more culpable in the infant’s death.

“I realize that not everyone will be satisfied with the sentence, but with the evidence before me I believe it is the only sentence appropriate,” Morris said.