Heartbreaking Moment Florida Mom Learns Sitter Killed Her Baby

And that's when I real. realized I didn't get a baby at the. core. I forgot. >> I mean, I was just a mom. couple hours ago, couple minutes ago, and now I'm having to precede a life. without a kid. >> It's been almost 2 years exactly since. baby Aria Paige died at a Florida. hospital. Her babysitter, now 47year-old. Rhonda Juel, had left her strapped into. a car seat inside an SUV as the hot. temperatures soared. And newly released. body cam video shows the moments that.

10-month-old Aria's family learned the. worst news of their lives. We are taking. a closer look at the investigation, Jules's trial, and a stunning twist. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and. Crime. I'm Jesse Weber. Hey everybody, this is another Law and. Crime legal alert. Did you know that. children are being diagnosed with. serious conditions like type2 diabetes. and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. and the research is potentially linking. ultrarocessed foods to all this? Yeah.

Well, Morgan and Morgan, they're. stepping in to fight to hold these food. companies accountable. With decades of. experience fighting large corporations, they are ready to stand up for the. families who deserve justice. So, if. your child under 21 has been diagnosed. with type2 diabetes or fatty liver. disease, then visit. www.forthepeople.com/food. forthepeople.com/food. or scan the QR code on screen to learn. more. We're in the middle of the summer, okay? And as the heat sizzles all across the. United States, we unfortunately are.

reminded of tragedies, the tragic. incidents where children are left behind. in vehicles that heat up well over 100°. inside. It happens way too often. It. shouldn't, and there's no excuse. And. today I want to talk about a recent. conviction that is grabbing headlines. again as the woman convicted of murder. for leaving a baby in a hot car is. appealing the verdict. July of 2023, Rhonda Juel was working a few days a.

week as a babysitter or nanny, keeping. watch over a number of different. children for several hours each day. Now, Juel, a mother herself, told a. Baker County, Florida court that she not. only worked as a child caregiver for. decades, but also raised her own three. children. But her world and the worlds. of many others came crashing down on. July 19th, 2023. Now, before we dive. into police body cam footage from the. scene that day, I do want to give you a. little bit of background about what. we're talking about. Now, Juel had been.

hired by Stacy Pashel to watch her young. daughter and twin boys at the family. home several days a week. Now, when. Brooke Paige, a new mom who was heading. back to work after maternity leave, asked if her baby could join the cohort, Juel happily agreed. Aria was the. granddaughter of Jules's best friend. This is according to court paperwork. On. July 19th, as Juel would later testify. at trial, she was in a rush to get to. the Powell house because Stacy needed to. leave early. She picked up Aria from the.

Page home, drove to Burger King to grab. some breakfast. She says the line at the. drive-thru was way too long. So, she. headed straight to the home in Mcclenny. This is a city in North Florida outside. of Jacksonville. But when she pulled. into the driveway and parked, she got. out and went inside, leaving. 10-month-old Aria in her car seat with. her baby bag tucked on the floor. underneath her feet. Local media outlets. report that the temperature that day. soared into the high 90s, possibly. topping 100°. And it wouldn't be until.

hours later that Juel realized what had. happened when Brooke came to pick Aiah. up. Deputies body cameras, they were. rolling when they responded to the scene. and paramedics were trying to help this. little girl inside the garage and her. mother Brooke was hysterical outside. I can't do this. I can't do this. >> No, I can't do this. I just want to hit.

somebody so hard right now. I can't do. this. I can't do this. I swear to God if she dies I will. I. can't I can't do this. I can't do this. He's only 10 months old. She's in the. garage. Multiple paramedics worked on Aria's. tiny body trying to revive her. And they. mentioned multiple times on the body cam. footage how hot her skin was, saying it. was like she was on fire. They rushed.

her to a nearby hospital where Brooke. and her mother-in-law, they waited. frantically for news. And that is when a. doctor delivered the heart-wrenching. update. >> I just want to know something. Y'all want to go in talk to the doctor? >> I don't know. I I just want to know. information. I don't want the doctor's. going to talk to you. >> Okay. >> You want your mother want to go with. you? >> Yeah. >> Doctor, she can talk to the doctor.

Okay, >> hangord.

mom. Grandmother. I want I want out. I want out. I want. out. I want out. I swear to God. I don't know what to do. No. I I don't. [Music].

[Music]. really. I can't do this. I I I don't know what to do, but I want. to be in. >> This has to be one of the worst things. you can imagine. Back at the home, investigators take temperature. measurements inside and outside of the. SUV. And I will tell you right now, the.

readings are stunning. >> That was 134 interior. >> That's the door being open. >> The door being open. So, you know, it. was probably 150 or 60 in there when it. happened. >> I'm sorry. >> That's okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Juul was booked into the Baker County. Jail, and she was charged with. aggravated manslaughter of a child and. eventually went to trial on three. counts. Negligent aggravated. manslaughter of a child, thirddegree. murder, and neglect of a child by.

leaving them unattended in a motor. vehicle, causing bodily harm. And she. was released on bond until her trial in. November of 2024. Now, during that. trial, we learned what Aria was like. from her mom, Brooke. >> Aria being 10 months old, can you just. describe what she was like, what she was. capable of doing at that age? >> Um, I'm so sorry. Um, she was a very bubbly little girl. Um, she would laugh. She She was never a.

bad baby. Um, she was constantly so. happy, but she would stare through you. like no other person. She didn't care. who you were, even me. She'd look at me. and make me laugh at those little goofy. looks. Um, at that point, she was. saying, "Da." Um, she was just getting. to the point where she was able to pull. up on stuff like she was about to start. walking. Um, she was just so giggly and. happy, so bubbly, such an outgoing baby. I can't You would just have to see her.

and you would just fall in love. prosecutors. They asked Brooke some. background questions and to confirm. details about getting Aria ready for the. day and Juel picking her up. And then. they got to the awful day in question. >> When you arrived on July 19th to pick up. Aria, where did you go? >> To the front door. >> To the front door. >> Had you ever gone to the back door? >> No. >> Have you ever gone to the garage door? >> No.

>> So that was normal for you? >> Yes. What did you do when you first got to. the front door? >> Knocked on the door. >> Did anyone answer when you knocked on. the door? >> No. >> After you knocked on the door, what did. you do next? >> Rang the doorbell. >> Okay. Did anyone come to the door when. you rang the doorbell? >> No. >> Could you hear anything inside the. house? >> Yes. >> What could you hear? >> Um the TV and the kids.

>> in the house. You could hear that. something was inside the house. >> Yes. >> After knocking on the door and ringing. the doorbell and there's no answer, what. do you do next? >> Picked up the phone and called her. >> So, you called the defendant. >> Yes. >> What did you say when you called her? >> Said, "Hey, I'm here.". >> And what did the defendant say to you? >> What door are you at? >> And what what were you thinking when she. said, "What door are you at?". >> I was wondering why she was asking me.

that. I've never went to any other. doors. >> Okay. >> What did you tell her? >> Said front door. >> What happened next when you told her you. were at the front door? >> Um, she then came to the door and opened. it. >> When she opened the door, what did you. do? >> I stepped inside. >> And what did you do as soon as you got. inside? >> What did I do? >> Yeah. What did you do? >> I took my shoes off. >> Okay. And what was the purpose of that?

>> Um, I was just always raised, take your. shoes off in somebody else's house. >> Okay. What does the defendant do as soon as. you walk in and you take your shoes off? >> Um, she kind of shoved me out the way. and like just started running out the. door. >> Is she saying anything as she was. running out the door? >> Screaming my name. >> Do you know where she was running to? Not until she arrived where she was. running to.

>> And where was where did she eventually. arrive? >> The back passenger door of her Tahoe. >> Would that be her vehicle? >> Yes. >> Where was her vehicle parked? >> On the side of the driveway in the. rocks. >> So it was outside? >> Yes. >> Was it in the garage or anything like. that? >> No. >> Did you follow her to her car? >> When I realized where she was going? Yes. When you arrived at the defendant's car, what did you see? >> Aria not breathing.

>> Where was Aria? >> In our car seat still. >> Was she still strapped in? >> Yes. >> Exactly where you had put her? >> Yes. >> You said she was not breathing? >> No. >> How did you know that? >> Her lips were blue. >> What did you do next? I told her to call 911. >> And was Aria taken out of the car?

>> Yes. >> Was her baby bag with all the items you. have packed still in the car as well? >> Yes. >> Prosecutors also asked Brooke about. learning that Aria had died at the. hospital. >> Did you then hear from the doctor? >> Yes. >> And were informed that Aria had passed? >> Yes.

How'd you feel at that moment? >> I didn't know how to feel. I didn't know. what to feel. Um, don't even know how to explain it. >> What did you do next? I sat outside and talked to the family. and asked them, "What did we do next?" I. mean, I was just a mom.

couple hours ago, couple minutes ago, and now I'm having to precede a life. without a kid. Miss Paige, on July 19th of 2023, you. left Aria in the care of the defendant, correct? >> Yes. And you gave her a baby back? >> Yes. >> During the five hours, a little maybe a. little over five hours, are you aware.

during that time, did the defendant ever. feed Aria? >> No. I think I'm understanding your. question. >> Did she ever feed Aria during those five. hours that you gave her? >> No. >> To her? >> No. >> Did she ever change her diaper during. that time? >> No. >> Ever change her outfit? >> No. make her baby bottles or formula? >> No.

Do. >> you remember the defendant saying to you. during this time when you were there and. you realized that Rya was in a vehicle? What did she say? >> I just remember her keep screaming my. name, but um that's all I really remember. During the trial, an investigator named. Sergeant Brad Doherty talked about his. conversations with Rhonda Juul after. Aria was found in that horrible. condition. >> What did she say happened? >> She said that when she got there.

that. Aria was sleeping um because she wasn't. making any noises or she assumed she was. sleeping because she wasn't making any. noises. So, she went on into the house, um, met with Stacy Pascal, spoke with. her briefly, and then sat down on the. couch and started her day with the other. three children. >> Did she indicate to you that she had.

forgotten the child? >> She did. >> Sergeant Dy's interview with Juel was. also played for the jury. And the. questions that will come up is, you. know, is anything on your mind? Have you. are you going through something. personally that would cause you not to, you know, think about it? Uh. >> I mean, we have a kid moving to college, so we're doing that. And. >> right, >> we're going to we're. London and we're supposed to go on. vacation tomorrow. And.

>> I mean, I don't that's not an excuse to. make I'm not asking to you to make. excuses. That's not what I mean. And I. mean, you know, uh the question is, you. know, it is possible to forget things. and and even a child. And it's it's even. more possible if you've got some type of. stress in your life at the time that. you're going through that kind of thing, you know, that would cause you to make. that forgetfulness, you know. Um so I. didn't know if there was something like. that going on in your life right now. just of the moving our kid to to college.

and this trip coming up in England and. we're supposed to leave it August the. 2nd and all of that. So, but Okay. >> No drugs or alcohol? >> Okay. >> All right. Well, I'll let your husband. come back in here. Um, we're currently. talking to the sheriff of the state. We're going to figure out where we go. from here. Okay. >> Now, Juel took the stand in her own. defense. Her lawyer started off the. questioning by having Juel talk about. the work she does with children, how she. would never intentionally hurt a child.

>> Aria was Brooke and Justice's daughter. Um, >> can you describe for the jury what kind. of relationship you had with Aria? Rhonda, >> I love her like she was my own. Um, I was there for baby showers, um, weddings, um, upwork and justice. Um, she just I gravitated to her just. like I would any baby. >> And during the course of the dinners and.

vacations and things that you've. described that you did with this family, would you spend time with Aria during. those events as well? >> Absolutely. >> Now, Juel explained what happened when. she pulled up to that home and parked. What happened when you got to Stacy's? >> I got there and I grabbed my my water. bottle, my my cup and I had um my lunch. in the um the little tray right there. where the cup holder is and I grabbed. it. My phone was right there as well and.

I grabbed it, got out of the car to to. get to the inside before um 8:15 so she. could leave. She didn't want to leave. while the kids were she didn't want them. up. She wanted them asleep so she could. get out and she wouldn't be late. And. that's what was I was thinking is get. there and get there on time before they. got up. >> When you got out of the car, Rhonda, did. you get Aria out of the car? >> No, ma'am. I forgot. I forgot I had her.

>> when you went inside. Did you talk to Stacy. >> for a brief a brief minute? >> As Jules's recollections reached the. moment that she realized something had. gone horribly wrong, she got emotional. >> Whenever Brooke Paige called you, can. you describe for us what happened? >> She said, "Hey." And I said, "Hey." And. she said, "Um,

what? Where?" She said, "I'm here." And. I said, "Here." I said, "Where you at?". And she said, "Um, I'm at the door." And. I said, "Oh." And. >> did you go to the door at that time? >> I did, but I didn't I didn't know why. she was there. So I was I was like, "What are you doing?" And she said, "I'm. here." And I So I asked her what where. was she was at? And she said, "I'm at. the door.". >> Did you go to the front door? >> I I did. >> What happened when you opened the front. door? Um, she opened I opened up the.

door and I seen her and I was still in. shock while she was there. And so she. had money in her hand and her keys. and. that's when I realized. I didn't get the baby at the I forgot I. forgot the.

Hurry, hurry, baby in the car. And so I. pushed her out the way and I'm. screaming, "Oh my god, Brooke. Oh my. god. Oh my god, Brooke." And she's I. could hear her saying, "What? What? What?" And I ran to ran to the car. and. I opened up the door and she was still. there. I ran myself in the back seat. What happened after you opened the door,

Rhonda? [Music]. Open up the back door and she was left. I accidentally left her in the car. I. was like, "Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my. god, bro. Oh my god, frog. She she.

and she said, "Call 911.". It's all right. I ran back inside. I. couldn't find my phone. and I couldn't when I found it, I I have. a code to get in and I couldn't remember. my code to get to get to get in my. phone. At that point, after you had found your. phone and you're trying to get into it,

have you come back outside to the car, >> Ma'am? >> At that point, after you had found your. phone, but you couldn't remember the. code to use it, did you come back out to. the car? >> I did. >> At Was Brooke on the phone at that time? >> I think she was. Yes, ma'am. >> What did you do at that point? Oh, I I got the baby out of the car. Out of.

the car seat. What did you do with Aria after you got. her out of the car seat? [Music]. I felt her and I and I pray God was. taking me instead. I beg God to give her breath and to take. me instead instead of her. at some point.

Okay. At some point did you take a riot inside. the garage? I did. >> What did you do at that point? >> Brooke came in. and. I think she was on the phone with Miss. Paige or I don't know who she was on the. phone with. She she had told me to go to. the road and wait for 911 to get there. so they know where.

to go. >> And um did you do that? >> I did. Did um I'm assuming that the EMTs. and firefighters they they came. >> Yes, ma'am. >> What happened after they arrived? Um. I remember. coming out of the garage. and I went to the front to front porch. and Brooke went somewhere. I don't. remember where she went, but I just know.

we weren't together. >> I'm sorry. You weren't. >> We weren't together. >> Did you go back inside Stacy's home at. that point? >> No, I remembered. that they were supposed to be eating. lunch and I went to go check and see if. the stove was still on. I couldn't. remember if I took turned it off or. what? What? And I just asked Maddie, the. oldest daughter. I said, "Please keep. them in here. Please keep them in here. Don't let them come outside." Rhonda.

Juul actually testified that she. urinated on herself as she ran to the. SUV and vomited after she saw Aria. When. it came time for cross-examination, the. prosecutor really pushed Juel to realize. exactly what she had done. >> You're testifying today that you forgot. Ario was in the car by the time you got. to the intersection of where Burger King. is and also at Stacy's house. Correct. >> Yes, sir. So, it would be fair to say.

that at that moment you have failed in. your duties as a caregiver. Correct. >> I did not hear her. I did. She didn't. make a sound. So, I didn't know she was. I forgot she was in a car. I didn't hear. her. >> Mitchell, that that isn't my question. My question is, would you agree? Isn't. it true? >> You're saying you forgot she was in a. car. You failed as your as a nanny, as a. babysitter, as a caregiver. You're.

saying you forgot about the baby. >> Yes, sir. >> So, you failed in your duties. Correct. >> Yes, sir. >> It only took the jury about an hour to. return with a verdict. >> State of Florida versus Rhonda Charmaine. Juel. Case number 02, 2023, CF 333. We the jury find as follows as to count. one of the information. The defendant is.

not guilty. We the jury find as follows as to count. two of the information. The defendant is. guilty of thirdderee felony murder as. charged in the information. We the jury. find as follows as to count three of the. information. The defendant is guilty of. leaving a child unattended or. unsupervised in a motor vehicle causing. great bodily injury as charged in the. information. So say we this 8th day of.

November 2024. >> So Rhonda Juel was found guilty on two. of the three charges, thirdderee felony. murder and leaving a child unattended in. a motor vehicle causing great bodily. injury. And at sentencing, there were. several emotional victim impact. statements that were read. both Ariah's. mother and father. >> We had so much trust in our own and. believed in our daughter would be in the. best of care with her. For her being so. close to our family to have shown no. remorse for what she did to us is so. careless and agonizing.

She has no remorse for what she did. She's going to games all the time and. join herself to go watch her daughter. pursue her dreams when I don't even have. the chance to do that because she took. my daughter away from me. Ronda took the. greatest human being away from me. But. not only did she take my daughter away. from me, she took a piece of me away on. July 20 on July 19th. Also, a rock could light up any room. She was generally such an easygoing. baby. She was such a ball to be around.

Now, I'm not just saying that because. I'm her mom, even though she is perfect. Just ask anybody. She made life beyond enjoyable. She. would stare through you like no other. person if she could figure out who you. were or if she just wanted to put on her. Wednesday Adam's face. Her. giggle would turn everybody's head so. fast and everybody would just stare at. her and just admire how beautiful she. was. She would 100% fool you when she. didn't get her way and she'd poke out. her bottom lip and fake cry. Just ask. her dad about that one. She was minding.

us as first kid and pointed she and. pointed me not know what we were doing. at first, but eventually we got the hang. of it and me were champs at it. I could. go on and on for days just how much she. lightened up her. Sorry. I could go on and on for days on just. how much she lightened up our days in. our lives, but I'm sure you get it by. now. I'm sure most of you are either. moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Therefore, I'm sure most of y'all.

just know how much that light and love. that first baby can shine on your life. and how much joy they bring into your. heart. I don't have to keep sitting here and. telling you how much you meant to us. I'm sure you get it. But I will tell. you, there's no day that goes by. I. don't miss hearing that giggle and. getting all her kisses on those juicy. lips or even rocking her to sleep. Our. lives change so much in a matter of. seconds. How did we go from being. parents every day for 10 months to our. lives revolving around her to nobody. to no one?

>> Mariah brought so much joy to my life as. a new dad. She made being a dad so easy. Her laughing giggles would carry my. attention every time. would catch my. attention every time. But hearing those. words, dad, would put the biggest smile. on my face. After a long day at work, I. knew it would I would be coming home to. a happy little girl that was just as. excited to see me as I was excited to. see her. A knew she had me wrapped. around her finger since the day she was. born. And it shows about a brand new.

bowl I bought for her. Even though she. didn't know I bought it just for her, she always had a big smile. and she was. always forgiving while she was riding on. the boat. I'll never be able to walk. riding down the aisle, buy her first. car, or take her to school for the first. time. I watch her follow me around New. York while I go and wash cars. She was. almost at the point where she was going. to take her first steps, but I'll never. get to see or do any of these things. with her because they were all wrong for.

us by one chaos and wrong. To even think. Ronda could be so careless and leave my. daughter in a hot car for 5 hours is so. heartbreaking. >> And Rhonda Juul also spoke weeping as. she told Ari's family how sorry she was. >> I know there's nothing I can say of you. that will ever heal your broken hearts. You will never know how truly sorry I. am. I was the go-to person to take care. of child to make sure she was happy.

to make sure she was cuffed on. So, she. went home. I'll let you down. You trusted me and I felt to hold up my. duties for the day and I'm truly sorry. >> Now, the judge sentenced Rhonda Juel to. 15 years on the murder charge and two. years for child neglect. Sentences that. she'll serve consecutively, so 17 years. in total. According to News4 Jax, Juel. could be eligible for parole in 14.

years. Brooke Paige, Jariah's mom, spoke. with media outside the courthouse. >> We now feel like an elephant has been. off of our shoulders and we feel. relieved um like there's not something. holding us down. Um just feel better. that she's not roaming the streets and. behind bars where she belongs. >> Now, here's where everything changes. In. a stunning twist, Juel was released from. jail in February of 2025. She was. granted a $100,000 bond while her case. is being appealed. And her legal team is.

arguing that Juel didn't intentionally. leave Aria in the car. And while her. actions may have been negligent, they. weren't malicious. So that appeal is. ongoing right now. I'll also tell you. there's a change.org petition underway. calling for her bond to be revoked and. for her to remain behind bars. The Paige. family has also filed a lawsuit against. Ronda Juel in connection with Aria's. death. So, these are updates that we'll. make sure to keep an eye on and see what. happens next. It's all we have for you.

right now here on Sidebar, everybody. Thank you so much for joining us and as. always, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you. should get your podcasts. I'm Jesse. Weber. I'll speak to you next time. [Music].