A drunken father let his two-year-old daughter die in a burning car and lied to police in Ohio.

The accused, Nicholas Stemen, 34, survived, but lied to police about the whereabouts of the girl, whose charred body was later found strapped into a child seat in the back seat of the car. The case shocked the community and concluded this Monday with a sentence of a minimum of 22 years and a maximum of 27 and a half years in prison, handed down by the relevant court, local media reported. According to the affidavit, Stemen later confessed that he had consumed at least 10 alcoholic drinks before being seen driving erratically by police officers. The vehicle was traveling with a flat tire before the driver stopped in the city of Lima, where the car burst into flames. When officers arrived, they found Stemen visibly impaired by alcohol, struggling to stand, smelling of alcohol, and slurring his speech. The man watched as his 2013 GMC Terrain burned to the ground, but initially claimed that no one else was inside. He lied about the girl before she was found. Under questioning, Stemen admitted to having a daughter, but claimed that she was with her grandfather. However, after extinguishing the fire, the fire chief inspected the interior of the vehicle and discovered the small body of the girl strapped into her child seat, with visible signs of skin and blood, according to the court file. Later, the defendant admitted that he lost consciousness inside the vehicle due to alcohol and did not remember the moments before the fire. Serious charges and exemplary sentence. Last month, Stemen pleaded guilty to manslaughter, aggravated arson, and child endangerment. During Monday's hearing,He claimed to have “no recollection” of what happened.

The girl's mother, Lillyanna, sent a devastating statement that was read in court: “My little girl is gone. And for what? Because her father enjoyed a night of drinking. He killed her,” she said, according to Lima News.

The woman added that the little girl was taken from everyone who loved her and asked for an exemplary sentence.

The local police department emphasized that the case is an extreme example of the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol, especially when minors are involved.

The sentence proposes that Stemen will remain in prison for at least 22 years, although it could be extended to 27 years and 6 months, as ruled by the judge.