Danielle Ivy Dechert, 27, pleaded guilty to Injury to a Child – Recklessly Causing Death/Serious Bodily Injury in the 33rd Judicial District Court of Blanco County, Texas, on August 30, 2024. She was sentenced to 40 years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Court documents alleged that Dechert, the biological mother of 5-month-old Rheylene Ledesma, became intoxicated by an illegal substance while co-sleeping with her infant and smothered Rheylene to death. Dechert reportedly failed to provide any medical treatment or emergency aid for over eight hours while the child lay lifeless in her bed.
Dechert's punishment range was enhanced due to a prior felony conviction for Evading in a Motor Vehicle and Endangering a Child from 2014.
Texas Ranger Jose Rodriguez served as lead investigator. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Amanda Dillon and Assistant Attorney General Jamie Tillman, with assistance from Sgt. Brian Seales from the Office of the Attorney General.
