A Santa Clara County jury found the father guilty of murder after prosecutors said he fatally struck his 8-month-old daughter in 2020.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A California man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after being convicted of murdering his 8-month-old daughter, whose fatal injuries prosecutors said were caused by a powerful blow to the face that left a hand-shaped bruise and severe brain trauma.
The sentence closes a case that began nearly six years ago when baby Raina was rushed to emergency responders on July 4, 2020. Prosecutors said the evidence showed the child died from blunt force trauma rather than the unexplained medical emergency described by her father. The conviction and sentencing mark the final stage of a homicide case that drew attention because of the severity of the injuries and allegations of broader abuse within the family.
According to authorities, 36-year-old Jesse Manuel Figueroa brought his unconscious daughter to a fire station in Mountain View on Independence Day in 2020. Emergency personnel transported the infant to a hospital, where doctors worked to save her life. She died several days later. Figueroa initially told investigators that he had been taking the child to a family barbecue when she suddenly lost consciousness and began bleeding from her nose. Prosecutors later said medical findings contradicted that account. As doctors examined the child, a bruise reportedly emerged on her cheek in the shape and size of an adult hand. An autopsy determined that the infant died from blunt force trauma and brain hemorrhaging. Medical testimony presented during the case described injuries so severe that the force of the strike caused the brain to shift within the skull. The findings became a central piece of evidence during the prosecution.
Investigators said the inquiry expanded beyond the events of that single day. Evidence introduced during court proceedings alleged that Figueroa had previously abused the child’s mother as well as the couple’s two other young children, who were 2 and 3 years old at the time. Prosecutors said the abuse included acts of violence against the mother and harsh punishments imposed on the children. Court records indicated that restrictions had been placed on Figueroa’s contact with the infant, limiting his ability to be alone with her. Prosecutors argued that despite those restrictions, he persuaded the child’s mother to allow him to watch Raina by himself on the day she suffered the fatal injuries. Defense arguments presented during the case were ultimately rejected by jurors, who found him guilty of murder earlier this year. Some details surrounding the moments immediately before the fatal injury remain unclear, but the jury concluded that the evidence established criminal responsibility beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case unfolded against a broader backdrop of concern about child abuse investigations and the challenges authorities face when very young victims are unable to describe what happened to them. Medical examiners, pediatric specialists and investigators relied heavily on physical evidence, injury patterns and witness statements to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding Raina’s death. Prosecutors argued that the visible hand-shaped bruise and internal injuries were inconsistent with an accidental medical event. The homicide ruling transformed what initially appeared to be a medical emergency into a criminal investigation. Family violence allegations involving other household members also became part of the prosecution’s effort to establish a pattern of abusive behavior. By the time the case reached trial, investigators had spent years gathering records, interviewing witnesses and consulting experts. The resulting evidence painted a picture of escalating violence that prosecutors said culminated in the infant’s death.
The legal proceedings moved through the Santa Clara County court system over several years before reaching a jury. Following the guilty verdict, the court imposed a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison, the standard punishment associated with the murder conviction in the case. The sentence means Figueroa will serve decades behind bars before becoming eligible for parole consideration. Prosecutors said the punishment reflects the gravity of the crime and the age of the victim. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen described the killing as both brutal and senseless. With sentencing complete, the criminal case has largely concluded, though routine post-conviction procedures and potential appeals remain available through the court system. No additional criminal charges related to Raina’s death were announced at the sentencing hearing.
Family members used the proceedings to remember the infant beyond the details contained in court filings and forensic reports. In a victim impact statement, Raina’s grandfather told the court that his granddaughter was deeply loved and deserved the opportunity to grow up. He said she should be remembered as a child and family member, not merely as a victim in a criminal case. Prosecutors echoed that sentiment after sentencing. Rosen noted that Raina would have been about 6 years old today had she survived. The remarks brought an emotional close to a case that had stretched across nearly six years. While the sentence cannot reverse the loss, officials said the verdict and punishment represent a measure of accountability for the child’s death and an acknowledgment of the harm suffered by those who loved her.
The case now stands as a concluded homicide prosecution, with the conviction intact and the sentence imposed. Unless future appeals alter the outcome, the next major milestone would come through any post-conviction court proceedings or eventual parole-related reviews years from now.
Author note: Last updated May 31, 2026.