Utah Parents Sentenced After 18-Month-Old Daughter Dies Following Severe Neglect

Carrie Marie Murray, left, and Mitchell Chestnut Murray, right, both 32, are shown in booking photos after being charged in Utah’s First District Court in December with aggravated murder and aggravated child abuse. Cache County Jail

Carrie Marie Murray and Mitchell Chestnut Murray have been sentenced to consecutive prison terms after their 18-month-old daughter, Ruby Marie Murray, died from dehydration and malnutrition in March 2025.

The Nibley, Utah, couple, both 32, pleaded guilty in July to child abuse homicide and aggravated child abuse. On Friday, a judge ordered each parent to serve two consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison.

The case emerged from what investigators described as a severe and prolonged pattern of neglect involving the toddler’s care and living conditions.

Ruby spent much of her final days in her crib

Eighteen-month-old Ruby Marie Murray was found dead in a filthy crib in March 2025. Facebook/Carrie Stacey Murray

According to charging documents, Mitchell described what he called “crib days” — periods when Ruby would remain in her crib for an entire day while he worked.

He told investigators this happened one or two days a week, although he claimed he checked on her periodically.

Investigators found that Ruby had spent only around six hours outside her crib during the final four days of her life. The circumstances surrounding those final days became a central part of the case against her parents.

The crib itself was found in extremely poor condition, with several sippy cups and a large amount of pieces of Egg-style waffle, including food and trash beneath the mattress.

Ruby was also dressed in long-sleeved pajamas, a sleep sack and several blankets despite a space heater keeping the room at about 77 degrees.

At the time of her death, she weighed approximately 17 pounds. Authorities and medical examiners determined that she died from complications related to malnutrition and dehydration.

Music played as Ruby cried

Mitchell Chestnut Murray and Carrie Marie Murray were sentenced to two consecutive terms of one to 15 years. Facebook/Carrie Stacey Murray

The night before Ruby was found dead, court documents said she cried and struggled to breathe while loud music was played in the home.

The following morning, around 10:30 a.m., Ruby was found unresponsive in her crib.

Carrie, who was identified as a registered nurse, did not perform life-saving measures after discovering her daughter, according to the charging documents cited in reports.

The Utah State Medical Examiner’s Office ultimately determined that dehydration and malnutrition were the cause of death.

The Cache County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation uncovered evidence of a “severe pattern of neglect” leading up to the toddler’s death.

Parents pleaded guilty after facing more serious charges

The Murrays were initially charged in December 2025 with aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, and aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony.

On July 2, 2026, both pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse and a reduced charge of child abuse homicide. Both convictions were second-degree felonies under the plea agreement.

During the investigation, Carrie reportedly told authorities, “It was her time, I guess,” when discussing her daughter’s death. The statement was included in court documents cited by multiple reports.

At sentencing, Utah District Judge Spencer Walsh sharply condemned the neglect described in the case.

“It’s appalling… it’s shocking the type of neglect demonstrated here,” Walsh said, according to reports.

Consecutive sentences mean both face up to 30 years

The judge sentenced each parent to two consecutive terms of one to 15 years.

Because the terms are consecutive rather than concurrent, each parent could face as many as 30 years in prison. They were also ordered to be placed on Utah’s child abuse registry, according to local reports.

The sentences bring a legal conclusion to a case that began with Ruby’s death on March 19, 2025, after investigators uncovered the conditions in which the toddler had spent much of her final days.

The medical examiner’s finding was clear: Ruby died from complications of malnutrition and dehydration, while the criminal case focused on the prolonged neglect that preceded her death.