Baby Chance’s father receives 45 years for killing newborn

SARASOTA, Fla. Joseph Walsh, the father of Chance Walsh, the newborn who was found buried in a remote wooded area in North Port in October 2015, was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Tuesday.

Walsh was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his seven-week-old baby. He also received an additional 30 years for aggravated child abuse.

Both sentences are concurrent, meaning Joseph Walsh will serve them at the same time.

With tears in her eyes Sally Susino, Chance’s grandmother, stood up and spoke directly to Walsh as he was being escorted out of the courtroom.

“As a father you were supposed to love and protect your family, but because of the sick sadistic monster that you are, you took their lives and brutalized an innocent infant who couldn’t protect himself,” Susino said.

Kristen Bury, the mother of Chance Walsh, was set to testify against Walsh during his trial but she was found dead inside a Sarasota County jail cell in September 2016. Bury was pronounced dead at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.