A Groton man who drowned his fiancee's 2-year-old niece in 2007 was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Craig Betancourt was babysitting Treau Bemis at a Groton home while his fiancee was at work and became upset after the girl threw up and cried while he bathed her in a Jacuzzi-style tub, police said.
His fiancee had custody of the child after D.C.F. removed her from the care of her troubled parents, according to family members.
Betancourt told officers he held Treau's face under the jets while she struggled and cried, then left her there and watched football, police said.
The case has divided the family.
During the sentencing hearing, the child's mother, Loretta Stollar, and some of her relatives urged the judge to sentence Betancourt to more than the 20 years outlined in his plea deal.
"Twenty years is not enough time I don't think. This man, if I must call him one, completely destroyed my daughter's life and left mine in shambles. I still cry daily over what he has done," said Stollar.
Other relatives, including the child's paternal grandfather, James Bemis, spoke in support of Betancourt.
"Craig would never harm anybody, let alone a child. What happened was a pure accident," said Bemis.
In ordering the 20 year prison sentence, Judge Patrick Clifford said it's clear Betancourt is legally and criminally responsible for the homicide and that his confession can't be ignored.
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When he's released from prison, he will be allowed no unsupervised contact with children under 16 while on probation.
Betancourt pleaded no contest to reduced charges of manslaughter and risk of injury to a child in September. He was originally charged with murder.
"I know my uncle and I know he wouldn't murder somebody or do anything to harm any child whatsoever," said Felicia Betancourt, the suspect's niece.
Outside court, Stollar said she's turned her life around, has a newborn baby, and will think of Treau everyday.
"West Virginia's my home now and that's where my family is and I'm just glad to finally put this behind me," said Stollar.
