Houston father gets life for molesting, suffocating 8-month-old daughter

HOUSTON (TCN) -- A 27-year-old father will spend the rest of his life behind bars for killing his baby daughter several years ago.

The Harris County District Attorney's Office announced Oct. 4 that Luis Luna received a life sentence without the possibility of parole after he was convicted of capital murder for sexually molesting and suffocating his daughter, 8-month-old Savayah Mason.

On Aug. 24, 2020, Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies and first responders received reports of an infant who had stopped breathing and went to Luna's apartment. Emergency medical personnel attempted to revive the baby, but she was transported to a hospital via ambulance and pronounced deceased.

An autopsy later determined Mason died of suffocation, and she had marks on her neck, as well as ligature marks "that showed she had been bound." According to prosecutors, investigators found evidence that Luna also sexually assaulted his daughter.

KPRC-TV reports that Luna and the child's mother were separated at the time. The mother allegedly dropped Mason off with Luna on the day of her death.

According to KPRC, officers discovered bloody baby wipes inside Luna's apartment.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said, "This baby couldn’t walk or talk, and she should have been with someone who kept her safe, but instead he abused that trust."

Assistant District Attorney Edward Appelbaum called the case "one of the most horrific acts of violence imaginable — it’s the worst kind of evil in the world."

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