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Father Known to DCF Who Abused, Neglected and Starved Toddler to Death Takes Plea, Gets 20-year Sentence

Five months after his wife, Kristen Meyer, was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the death of their infant daughter, Alejandro Aleman pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter of a child and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, as reported by CBS 12.

This issue arises from terrible circumstances that took place in Palm Beach County back in 2016.  Alejandro and his wife had 10 children at the time and kept them all in “deplorable” living conditions.  Investigators discovered a home with mildew, insects, and feces smeared on the walls.  The victim, Tayla, was merely 7 pounds at the time of her death when she was 13 months old.  Tayla was severely malnourished and was infected with E. coli, influenza, and pneumonia at the time of her death.

Regrettably, this family of 10 children were on the radar of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for several years; however, there was never any significant intervention taken that should have prevented the horrific events.  DCF Secretary Mike Carroll stated Tayla’s death was “senseless and avoidable.”

Despite DCF’s mission to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency, Tayla was failed by the system designed to protect her.

Contact us at 754-888-KIDS to learn more about our work to protect kids and about our offices that handle New Orleans child abuse cases and Chicago child injury matters.

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