CENTREVILLE, MI — The criminal case against a Sturgis Township mother whose actions led to the death of her 2-year-old daughter has reached its conclusion, but prosecutors say accountability for the child’s death is not over.
Paige Nichole Bohne was sentenced in St. Joseph County Circuit Court to 18 years and 9 months to 45 years in prison after pleading no contest to first-degree child abuse and assault with intent to do bodily harm in the death of her daughter, Octavia Bohne. The sentences will run concurrently, with Bohne receiving 406 days of credit for time already served.
RELATED: Michigan Mother Sentenced In Death Of 2-Year-Old Daughter After Murder Charge Dropped In Plea Deal
As part of her plea agreement, charges of open murder and conspiracy were dismissed, a decision that stunned many in the community when it was first announced earlier this year.
How Octavia Died
Newly released details about what happened inside the family’s home on Nov. 7, 2024, paint a disturbing picture of prolonged neglect and fatal abuse. According to reporting by The Daily Reporter, investigators determined that Bohne gave her daughter an excessive dose of melatonin, then forced the toddler to nap so she could use her phone to message her boyfriend.
Authorities say Octavia was later pushed into a couch and smothered, held down until she stopped breathing. Bohne did not immediately check on her daughter and instead continued texting and going about her activities for approximately seven hours before discovering the child was dead.
Emergency responders were called to the Memory Lane Mobile Home Park in Sturgis Township, but life-saving efforts were unsuccessful. Octavia was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutor Deborah Davis told the court she does not believe Bohne intended to kill her daughter, but described her actions as “unconscionable.”
Sentencing and Prison Reality
Judge Paul Stutesman sentenced Bohne at the top end of Michigan’s sentencing guidelines, noting the severity of the abuse and the child’s vulnerability.
Under Michigan Department of Corrections records, Bohne will not be eligible for parole until Aug. 6, 2043. Her maximum discharge date is Nov. 6, 2069, meaning she could remain incarcerated until age 66.
Prosecutors have indicated they do not expect parole to be granted at the earliest eligibility date, based on the facts of the case and Bohne’s conduct.
Bohne did not address the court at sentencing. The court also terminated her parental rights to her older son earlier in the proceedings.
Why the Murder Charge Was Dropped
The decision to dismiss the open murder charge was tied directly to Bohne’s agreement to cooperate and testify truthfully against another defendant in the case. That cooperation was a key factor in the plea deal that avoided a murder trial.
Sentencing was initially scheduled for August but delayed after questions arose about Bohne’s willingness to comply fully with the terms of the agreement. Prosecutors later confirmed that Michigan State Police polygraph experts were used to validate portions of her testimony before sentencing moved forward.
Boyfriend Still Faces Life in Prison
While Bohne’s case is now closed, her boyfriend remains at the center of the next phase of prosecution.
Frederick Nelson, 32, of Battle Creek, has been charged with felony murder, aiding in strangulation, and tampering with evidence. The charges carry the possibility of life in prison.
Nelson posted a $200,000 bond following a preliminary examination in November. His trial is currently scheduled for February, according to court records.
Bohne testified at Nelson’s preliminary examination, where prosecutors say she attempted to justify her actions and displayed a lack of concern for her daughter’s condition.
Because Nelson’s case is still pending, the judge and prosecutors declined to comment further on the evidence at Bohne’s sentencing.
What Comes Next
With Bohne sentenced, the focus now shifts to whether the criminal justice system will deliver full accountability for Octavia’s death. Prosecutors have made clear that her cooperation was intended to strengthen the case against Nelson, whose trial will determine whether additional responsibility is imposed.
For Octavia’s family, the sentencing marked another painful chapter. Loved ones placed flowers at her grave following the hearing, where emotional statements described lives permanently altered by the loss of a child who never had the chance to grow up.
A mother will spend decades behind bars. A second defendant still faces trial. And the final measure of justice for a 2-year-old girl now rests with a jury.
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