A 38-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for the tragic and horrific crime of torturing and beating his newborn baby to death.
Kevin Van Streefkerk has been sentenced to life without parole by El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Mark A. Ralphs. This comes after the tragic murder of young Alya Van Streefkerk on Father’s Day last year.
Prosecutors expressed their belief that life in prison is an extraordinary sentence, acknowledging the difficulty of finding a punishment that truly feels like justice in this particular case.
Van Streefkerk, a former telecommunications technician at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, has recently made a plea deal with the district attorney’s office. He pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder and a “infliction of torture” enhancement.
As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors decided to dismiss the additional murder charges and one count of abuse of a child under age 8 resulting in death.
According to a news release from the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors have stated that a significant amount of the severe physical abuse suffered by baby Alya was recorded on video. Van Streefkerk later admitted to multiple beatings of his newborn daughter in a confession. According to prosecutors, Van Streefkerk admitted to severely beating her.
At Van Streefkerk’s sentencing hearing on July 12, 2024, Deputy District Attorney Kassie Cardullo informed the court that after Alya’s passing, Van Streefkerk remained devoid of any display of emotion or tears during numerous interviews with authorities.
“The pain caused by this case and the family’s grief for the innocent infant is nothing compared to the pain Alya herself endured,” Cardullo expressed. She appeared incredibly small, delicate, and vulnerable. She was unable to defend herself or communicate her suffering to anyone. I can’t understand it.
Before officially delivering the sentence, Ralphs characterized Van Streefkerk’s actions as particularly brutal and inhumane.
Alya’s mother delivered a powerful victim impact statement, directly addressing Van Streefkerk and expressing her deep anger and grief over the loss of their daughter, as reported by the Sacramento Bee.
According to reports, she expressed her perception of a world filled with malevolence. “I have no sympathy for you.”
As mentioned earlier, deputies on June 17, responded to a call regarding a report of “physical abuse against an infant.” The department did not disclose the specific location where the deputies responded. However, it was mentioned that Van Streefkerk resided in Cameron Park with his wife and baby daughter, which is approximately 30 miles east of Sacramento.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office stated that the infant suffered multiple injuries due to the abuse. She was quickly taken to a hospital and admitted in critical condition. Regrettably, the young girl did not survive her injuries and passed away at the hospital the next day. She passed away on June 18, coincidentally on Father’s Day.
Investigators quickly gathered evidence that pointed to Van Streefkerk as the culprit behind Alya’s murder. According to Cardulo, the newborn endured severe injuries including skull fractures, multiple impacts to her face, and brain bleeds, all caused by her father’s beatings.
Van Streefkerk held a position as the head tennis coach at Mesa Verde High School in Citrus Heights from August 2022 through November 2022, alongside his work with the governor’s office.
Source: Law&Crime