Shamong man sentenced to 20 years for death of toddler
Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi announced that a Shamong Township man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison for killing a 1-year-old toddler in 2013 who was being fostered by his girlfriend.
Under the state’s No Early Release Act, Steven R. Donaldson, age 32, of Wesickamen Drive in Shamong must serve 17 years of the term without the possibility of parole. He was sentenced by the Hon. Charles A. Delehey, J.S.C.
Donaldson was convicted in November of killing Claudia Nunes while caring for her in the Cinnaminson Township home of his girlfriend on Feb. 12, 2013. Donaldson’s girlfriend, who was serving as the little girl’s foster mother, was at work at the time. Claudia had turned a year old the day before her death.
The jury found Donaldson guilty of aggravated manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child on Nov. 19, 2015 following a five-week trial before Judge Delehey in Superior Court.
The investigation revealed that just before 8 p.m., Donaldson placed a call to 9–1–1 and indicated that Claudia was not breathing. Law enforcement and emergency medical technicians who responded were unable to revive Claudia. She was taken to Kennedy University Hospital in Cherry Hill, where she was pronounced dead.
Donaldson claimed that Claudia fell and struck her head on the floor as he was preparing to change her diaper. However, an autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood concluded that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. Dr. Hood testified during the trial that Claudia’s injuries included a fractured skull, brain swelling and bleeding.
The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Cinnaminson Township Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.
Donaldson still faces a separate charge of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. The charge stems from Oct. 29, 2015 when New Jersey State Police went to Donaldson’s home to discuss a hit and run accident that occurred earlier that day and found heroin and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle and on his person.
