A California woman will spend the next six years in prison after her daughter’s 2018 death, a Fresno judge ruled Tuesday.
Despite an emotional plea for a probation sentence, Judge Heather Mardel Jones, unconvinced by Joy Collins’ downplaying her responsibility in her daughter’s death, sentenced her to six years behind bars for child abuse and endangerment.
Collins said she regrets leading her 8-year-old daughter, Joyanna Harris, under a freight train, a decision that subsequently had fatal consequences.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Collins and her two children, including a 9-year-old son, tried to get to a bus stop by its 6 p.m. pick-up in December 2018. Before they reached the stop, a mile-long train stopped in their path, close to Belmont Avenue near Effie Street in Fresno.
Collins and her son successfully crossed under the train, but Joyanna, reluctant to cross, stayed behind.
Collins admitted that she urged the girl to cross immediately so they wouldn’t miss their bus. While the victim crossed under the train, it began to move. The train dragged then dragged her around 500 feet before it stopped again.
She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.
Collins later told police that she had crossed under trains numerous times in the past with her children. According to Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, Collins also had previous run-ins with Child Protective Services, as well as a criminal history of theft.
Prosecutor David Devencenzi called on the judge to impose a 9-year prison sentence, arguing that Collins hasn’t fully accepted responsibility for her daughter’s death, Fresno Bee reports.
Defense attorney Mark Broughton asked the judge for leniency, citing Collins’ life challenges and trauma. Broughton advocated for probation, contending that Collins had already endured suffering.
“I do believe she feels sadness and remorse but I also believe she has convinced herself that this was an accident or that she could not have foreseen this happening or was responsible,” Jones said.
“That is akin to someone playing with fire and being shocked at being burned.”
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[Feature Photo: Joy Collins and Joyanna Harris/Fresno PD]
