‘I Would Trade Places With My Daughter if I Could,’ Convicted Homicide Defendant Says

By Jamarne Jones [former] - October 12, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On Oct. 11, the victim’s great-grandmother sobbed as impact statements were read before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Jones.

Anthony Ford, 25, was convicted in August of first-degree child abuse and first-degree assault, which led to the death of his 5-month-old daughter Brailynn Ford on Oct. 6, 2018.

While giving her victim impact statement Brailynn’s great-grandmother talked about how the child was “healthy, beautiful, never cried unless she was hungry, and her smile lit up a room.” In a sadder, lower tone she also recounted “we couldn’t donate her organs because they were too damaged.”

The prosecutor expressed “grave concerns” about the defendant and his inability to take responsibility for this crime. Instead the defendant blamed it on some “strange disease.”

The prosecutor said she fears for the safety of other children if there is no accountability here, including the defendant’s girlfriend’s 2-year-old child. The prosecutor suggested a sentence of life plus 50 years for first-degree child abuse and a consecutive 20-year sentence with 5 years supervised probation for first-degree assault.

Defense Attorney Tony Garcia said his client made a split-second decision that changed his life forever. He asked the court to take into consideration Ford’s lack of criminal record and prior convictions. Garcia also spoke of the defendant being suicidal at 10-years-old.

The defendant’s grandmother and father spoke of his loving nature towards children and being raised by a single dad. A pre-sentence evaluation shows that Ford struggled with not having a mother growing up and had mental health concerns.

“I would trade places with my daughter if I could,” Ford told the judge during the sentencing.

Judge Jones sentenced Ford to life suspending all but 50 years in prison for first-degree child abuse and a concurrent 20 years for first-degree assault. Upon his release the defendant will also have to serve 5 years on probation as well as undergo a mental health evaluation, anger management classes and have no unsupervised contact with children.