Life‑Long Sentence for a Former Nanny in the Upper West Side
On May 14, a lawyer‑turned-sentenced judge handed a former New York nanny a life sentence with no parole. The grim verdict finally closed a nightmare that had rattled families across the nation four years earlier.
The Unthinkable Crime
Yoselyn Ortega, 56, was found guilty of murdering two kids under the age of three. The babysitting job turned into a midnight tragedy on October 25, 2012, when six‑year‑old Lucia and two‑year‑old Leo were attacked with a kitchen knife found in their Upper West Side home. The jury engraved the dark facts: two first‑degree murders, two second‑degree murders.
What the Prosecutor Said
- Ortega planned the murders.
- Motivation: money woes and ire at her wealthy employers.
- “Leo and Lulu will never get a chance to finish their lives,” said Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, concluding that the killer would live her days behind bars.
The Nanny’s Moment of Sob
Just before the sentence, Ortega broke into tears, expressing remorse for the first time. She asked God and the grieving parents for forgiveness, all while insisting she “did not feel well.” In Spanish, translator-transcribed, she offered, “I’m very sorry, but I hope that no one goes through what I have gone through.” She spoke from a simple oatmeal top, pony‑tied hair, and a tone that echoed deep guilt.
Psychology Threads
Her attorney, Valerie Van Leer‑Greenberg, highlighted that Ortega is battling psychosis, depression, and auditory hallucinations urging her to kill. She pleaded for protective custody for the ill defendant.
Beyond the Courtroom
Marina Krim, 41, stumbled upon the humiliating scene when she rushed home expecting Lucia in a dance class. Orchestrated by the nanny, Lucia suffered about 30 slash wounds, a testament to her desperate defence. Ortega even tried to kill herself afterward.
These chilling details spun a story that has even inspired a bestselling French novel examining childcare dynamics.
