GADSDEN, Alabama (WBRC) – An Etowah County woman was sentenced to life in prison for her role in the death of a 3-year-old girl.

Haley Metz pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated child abuse in connection with the death of 3-year-old Aydah Grace DiMaso. DiMaso was found in a bathtub unconscious and covered in wounds during a welfare check in 2021.

Etowah County Circuit Judge William Ogletree apologized to the court for becoming emotional while handing down a life sentence to Haley Dee Metz.

“There should be a means for a grandfather. step in and have some of those rights, but right now there aren’t any,” said Aydah DiMaso’s grandmother, Shundra Powe Davis.

In June, Nikolas Di Maso He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after pleading guilty to the murder of his 3-year-old daughter. His girlfriend Haley Metz received a life sentence on Friday after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated child abuse.

“So while you’re in prison and you think about the cruelty that you gave him, I don’t wish the worst on anyone because I know, like I said, I have to live my life beyond this, but I think this was the best. possible sentence,” Powe Davis said.

Sandra Powe, Aydah’s great-grandmother, says she is trying to recover from this traumatic experience.

“This moment and this time really gives us the strength we needed and so we can all begin the true healing process now.”

From graphic photographs to hearing about the abuse and torture her grandson endured, Shundra Powe Davis says it was all worth it to get justice for Aydah.

“Even if she were here, she can’t speak for herself. We just wanted to make sure we were here in whatever capacity we could. There were parts where I had to back away because I had a memory of her that I wanted to preserve and I knew that to get through it I had to be able to fight,” Powe Davis said.

Shundra Powe Davis says this tragedy has given her family purpose. They want to ensure that grandparents have the rights and ability to save at least one child.

Receive news alerts on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.

Copyright 2024 WBRC. All rights reserved.