(Orange City) — The daycare provider accused of killing a three year old girl that was in her care has been sentenced to 100 years in prison. 34 year old Rochelle Sapp was given the sentence Thursday morning at the Sioux County District Court. Sapp was originally charged with willful injury and child endangerment following an incident that occured last year of October 2013. Three year old Autumn Elgersma was originally taken to the Orange City hospital, then transferred to Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was diagnosed with severe brain injuries resulting from Sapp admitting to authorities that she threw the 3 year old girl to the floor. Two days later, the child passed away as a result of the injuries. Sioux County authorities dropped the willful injury and child endangerment charges and instead filed murder in the first degree charges. A plea agreement was reached with Sapp agreeing to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a second count of child endangerment resulting in death, and a third count of child endangerment with multiple acts.
