A judge has sentenced a Minneapolis, Minnesota, man to 25 years behind bars, after he was convicted of fatally beating his 4-month-old daughter just because she was making baby noises, according to the Twin Cities Pioneer Press.

On August 13 2016, Cory Morris, 22, struck his daughter, Emersyn, more than 20 times and roughly squeezed her chest because she was making noise as he watched television, as recorded in the official criminal complaint.

Police noted that the father’s hands were covered in blood when they arrived at the scene. He told authorities that his daughter was making “baby talk” as he watched television, leading him to put her on a changing table in another room. Morris carried out the violent attack after she continued to make noise from the other room, People has reported.

The infant was taken to an area hospital and was later pronounced dead. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the infant died of blunt force trauma to the head, KMSP noted.

Morris called the baby’s mother, as well as his own mother, and confessed to doing “something bad.” They both instructed him to call 911, according to the Star Tribune.

Though the 22-year-old was convicted of second-degree murder back in April, defense attorneys argued that he didn’t realize what he was doing at the time, due to untreated mental illness. However, Hennepin County District Judge Kerry Meyer found the Minneapolis man criminally responsible for his actions.

The state pushed for Morris to receive the maximum sentence of 40 years while defense attorneys requested probation. On Friday, Judge Meyer imposed a 25-year sentence put forth by state guidelines.

Senior Assistant Hennepin County Attorney Amy Sweasy said in a statement: “Morris abused his position of authority as her father, her young age made her vulnerable and the way he killed her was done with particular cruelty.”

It has not been announced if Morris plans to appeal his conviction or sentence.

[Featured Image: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office]