Teen gets 40 years for drowning infant

A Dallas teenager was sentenced to 40 years in prison for drowning the baby her mother had been caring for.

The unnamed juvenile gave up her right to a trial and admitted killing 2-month-old Justice Hull in January. She was 14 years old at the time.

She told a 911 dispatch officer, "What, it ain't nothing. All I did was drown the baby."

She later told police she picked the sleeping child up and pushed her head into the water. It was something she had been thinking about doing and decided the day before to go ahead with it.

When further questioned, the teen told investigators she was upset with her mother for trying to adopt Hull.

The teen's mother was granted temporary custody of Hull while her biological mother was in jail.

A Child Protective Services report said the woman requested help from the state because she worked and her 19-year-old son, who had been watching the baby for short periods of time, was returning to school. The request was denied twice.

On the day Hull was killed, she was home with the woman's two teenage daughters.

The defense attorney argued the teen needs mental help.

She could have received probation, but the judge decided on the maximum sentence.

She was not tried as an adult and will be eligible for parole once she turns 19.