UPDATE 4:18 p.m.:
Nicholas Canfield has been sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of killing and sexually abusing 2-year-old Jaliyah Ramos.
During sentencing, Jaliyah's father spoke about how he misses his daughter's laugh, the words "I love you," and how her death changed everything.
"She was my little angel...she was just so cute," he said. "I'll never forget the last beat of her heart over the monitor...She doesn't get a chance to live and I don't get to see her grow."
Fox 4 Senior Reporter Kaitlin Knapp explains what was said inside the courtroom:
Jaliyah's mother also spoke before Canfield's sentence.
"There are no words to describe the pain or the rage that we feel losing her the way that we did," said Jasmine Rivera. "We live with a hole in our heart that will never heal."
Before the jury made the decision to sentence Canfield to life, the State Attorney's Office argued his crimes fit the highest penalty.
"Her last day int his world was filled with pain, fear and watching her siblings be abused," said Assistant State Attorney Francine Donnorummo.
Canfield's attorney questioned parts of the autopsy and said Canfield will die in prison either way, but it's up to the jury to determine if he will die by the hands of Florida or a higher power.
"I want you to look at his face one more time," Kevin Shirley said to the jury as he asked Canfield to stand up. "The things he went through in his life, you can't ignore those things."
Knapp asked the State Attorney's Office about the sentence of life in prison. While they think the crimes justified the death penalty, they say they respect the jury's decision.
"This absolutely at least, we hope closes at least one door leads to a little bit of closure so that the family is able to take a step forward," said Assistant State Attorney Natalie Savino.
"We love her [Jaliyah] and we're sorry she was gone from us so early," Donnorummo said.
ORIGINAL REPORTING:
The jury has recommended life in prison for Nicholas Canfield, convicted of killing and sexually abusing 2-year-old Jaliyah Ramos in 2020. He was also found guilty of aggravated child abuse of two other children.
The jury took less than an hour to decide the recommendation.
Back in April 2020, Lee County deputies responded to a North Fort Myers home because a toddler was unresponsive, later identified as Ramos. She was taken to a hospital where doctors said they found signs of trauma consistent with sexual abuse. The girl died two days later.
Prosecutors say she died from blunt force trauma to the head, and the medical examiner said he found other significant signs of abuse during the girl's autopsy.
The jury deliberated for less than three hours before coming back with a guilty verdict a week ago.
On Wednesday afternoon, victim impact statements will be read during sentencing.
