Gianna Lynn D’Alessio
(Born: 10/5/99   Shaken: 01/13/2000   ANGEL: 1/13/2000)

On Thursday 1-13-00, Jennifer Lynn, Gianna’s mom, was going to work for the first time since having Gianna.  It was an extremely cold and snowy night.  Jenn left the house at 4pm for a 4 hour shift.  At 5:00, Gianna’s dad called 911 saying Gianna was not breathing properly.  A rescue responded.  They examined Gianna and said her vital signs were fine.  They told dad to feed Gianna, change her diaper and perhaps she had gas.  They left Gianna with her dad at 5:30.  The rescue men said they thought he was a first time nervous dad.  At 8:00, dad called 911 again and said Gianna was not breathing properly.  The same rescue men responded, but this time Gianna was dead.  She was bleeding from the nose, eyes, mouth and ears.  Dad never gave a statement to the rescue, hospital or police and he never testified in court.  The medical examiner said she was violently shaken and had impact injury and died instantly.

Dad was never charged with child abuse because in Rhode Island, Shaken Baby Syndrome had not been written into the child abuse laws.  It is NOW!

Dad was arrested one week after Gianna died and was immediately out on bail for $5000. The grand jury was in July 2000.  He remained out on bail until the trial in March 2002.  He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 60 years, 20 suspended with probation.  Estimated time of release is March 2032.