Cheyanne Jarrell (left) listens as her sentence of 27 months in prison is read during a hearing at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett on Wednesday. Jarrell was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the death of 4-month-old Kailynn Watson, whom she was babysitting in February 2016. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Cheyanne Jarrell (left) listens as her sentence of 27 months in prison is read during a hearing at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett on Wednesday. Jarrell was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the death of 4-month-old Kailynn Watson, whom she was babysitting in February 2016. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Babysitter gets 27 months in prison for death of 4-month-old

Unapologetic, Cheyanne Jarrell, 24, denies shaking baby Kailynn Watson and plans to appeal.

EVERETT — Cheyanne Jarrell pleaded with a Snohomish County judge Wednesday not to send her away from her young daughter.

“She’s my life,” the 24-year-old said.

He understands why a mother doesn’t want to be separated from her child, Superior Court Judge Michael Downes said. He also reminded Jarrell that she was standing in front of him because “a young mother did have her child taken away.”

The defendant is responsible for 4-month-old Kailynn Watson’s death, Downes said. He sentenced Jarrell to 27 months in prison, the maximum under the state’s sentencing guidelines.

“You were supposed to be taking care of her while her parents were at work … instead, you killed her,” Downes said.

In September, a jury convicted Jarrell of second-degree manslaughter after a three week trial. Jurors acquitted her of a more serious degree of manslaughter. She would have faced up to 8½ years behind bars if she’d been convicted of first-degree manslaughter.

Jarrell was babysitting 4-month-old Kailynn in February 2016 in Marysville when the girl stopped breathing. Kailynn was declared brain dead three days later. Multiple exams revealed a contusion on her spine, brain bleeding and retinal hemorrhages. Doctors concluded that the spinal injury paralyzed Kailynn’s diaphragm, depriving her of oxygen.

Prosecutors alleged that Jarrell, a new mother, became frustrated while watching her own infant daughter and Kailynn and shook the girl with enough force to damage her spine.

“Ms. Jarrell’s decision in that moment … is exactly why we’re here today,” deputy prosecutor Matt Baldock said. “It’s her fault.”

Jarrell has denied shaking the girl. The defense argued that there were other explanations for why Kailynn stopped breathing, including a virus.

The defendant maintained her innocence Wednesday and offered no apology to Kailynn’s family. She plans to appeal her conviction.

She and her defense attorney, Cassie Trueblood, urged the judge to spare the young mother from being separated from her daughter, now 2. The public defender requested a 30-day jail sentence.

Trueblood asked Downes to consider her client’s young age at the time of the incident, saying current research suggests that young people’s brains aren’t fully developed until the age of 25. She also argued against concluding that the jury’s verdict meant jurors believed Jarrell was responsible for the girl’s death.

“We don’t know why they acquitted her” of the more serious charge, Trueblood said.

The verdict indicated that jurors believed Jarrell failed to be aware that her actions could put the baby’s life in danger. They didn’t find that Jarrell disregarded those risks.

There is no evidence that something or someone else was responsible for Kailynn’s death, the judge said. She died at the hands of the young woman entrusted to care for her, and the defendant testified that she knew that mishandling a baby could lead to her death, Downes said.

“Kailynn was as vulnerable as a human being can get,” he said.

The judge said no matter what sentence he handed down, Kailynn’s family will never be whole again.

Kailynn would have turned 2 on Oct. 19, her father wrote in a letter. He has missed watching her learn to walk and learn to say, “mommy and daddy.”

While Kailynn was in the hospital, her parents prayed that God would let their daughter come home.

“I really thought and believed in spite of what was being said she would come home with us,” the girl’s mother wrote. “It’s my job to protect her. The one most important thing I failed in doing so.”

She wrote of not being able to comfort her other children, who’d been removed from their home during the initial investigation.

“Our children were taken from us. We were only allowed to have supervised visits, not allowed to be left alone with them,” she wrote.

The grieving mom wrote of not wanting to let go of her daughter’s crib, clothing or blanket and gathering at the cemetery on what would have been Kailynn’s first birthday.

“Our life as we knew it has been shattered and will never be the same,” she wrote.

The trial, she said, added to her pain. The defendant’s actions “were like dumping salt on my deep, deep everlasting wounds,” she wrote.

Kailynn’s parents asked that Jarrell not be shown any leniency. The sentence for the conviction isn’t long enough, they said.

Downes acknowledged that nothing he did would erase their heartache.

“Everywhere you look in every direction in this case people are in pain,” he said.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Everett mayor candidates focus on affordability, city budget in costly race

As incumbent Cassie Franklin seeks a third term in office, three candidates are looking to unseat her.

Everett
Judge sentences man, 73, for intending to have sex with ‘teen’ in Everett

The Arizona man sent explicit images to an agent posing as a 13-year-old. Investigators found images of child sexual abuse on his phone.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

State’s draft of climate action plan open for public comment

Residents can submit public comments or climate-related stories online through Aug. 22.

The Edmonds School Board discusses budget cuts during a school board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds school board approves 2025-26 budget

After facing an estimated $8.5 million shortfall earlier in the year, the board passed a balanced budget Tuesday.

A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.