Stories of heartbreak and devastation filled the fourth floor courtroom at the Marion County Courthouse Tuesday at the sentencing of a Pella woman responsible for the death of a young child in her care.

Valerie Wackerly received three years probation after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a class D felony. During the hearing the family members of Amelia Smith–the child who died in the June incident, shared their grief, anger, and pain in witness impact statements. Her mother, father, and grandparents read tearful stories of sorrow for the loss of “Mia.” The family asked Wackerly to accept guilt and help them share their story to prevent other tragedies. At the end of the hearing, Wackerly apologized to those affected. She left the child alone in a carseat for a nap in an in-home daycare, and upon her return, checked on and found Amelia Smith unresponsive. Amelia’s mother Lisa Smith told KNIA/KRLS News the child was a vibrant, healthy, and active girl that “deserved better.”

“Our little girl was an amazing individual,” Lisa says. “She had a knack for a beat, and her middle name was sort of predestined I think for a lot of musical talent that we were just beginning to tap into.”

“Her smile, and her laughter, her mischievousness were really something that we were excited to follow for the rest of her life.”

Wackerly was also ordered to pay restitution, not care for any children other than her own, and record a PSA about safe sleeping practices for infants.