Athena Skeeter threw her own son on top of Cardell Williamson and stepped on both boys three more times before the injured toddler was put in a bathtub that was filled with scalding hot water
Cardell Williamson died after day nursery operator Athena Skeeter threw him onto a hardwood floor and stomped on his stomach during a wrestling match.
Skeeter, 42, threw her own son on top of the 20-month-old child and stepped on both boys three more times at the nursery she ran out of her home.
The fatally injured toddler was then placed into a bathtub that was filled with scalding hot water before being rushed to hospital .
She has already served more than two years behind bars and could leave prison soon, depending on a decision by New York state's parole board.
A court heard how Cardell was killed on August 22, 2014, while he was being cared for by Skeeter, a licensed nursery operator, at her home in Bronx, New York.
She told police the boy was injured as they were play wrestling.
He was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Edward McGowan, defending, told the court that Skeeter was not being sentenced for intentionally killing Cardell, but for a horrific accident that she regrets, DNA Info reported.
He said: "She loved Cardell Williamson as much as anyone in this room."
Cardell's emotional parents choked back tears as they attended Skeeter's sentencing hearing.
Outside court his heartbroken mother Thomasina Cheatham and his father Carlyle Williamson, described how his death has affected the family and robbed them of precious moments.
Mr Williamson, 58, said: "Never got to take him trick-or-treating. Doing a real good birthday where he understands. I missed all that.
“I missed all them Kodak moments.”
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