25-years to life issued in fatal child abuse case

Five years after the tragic death of a 5-year-old, Orangevale's Adam Caldwell, 39, and Jessica Prater, 32, were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the fatal abuse of a child and related charges. In April 2016, Prater and her 5-year-old son, Zachary, reportedly moved into Caldwell's home where Caldwell started physically and psychologically abusing the 5-year-old, according to the Sacramento County District Attorney's office. The abuse reportedly intensified and became more frequent as Prater also began abusing the child with Caldwell, her boyfriend at the time. On June 2 of the same year, the Sacramento Metro Fire Department responded to the Orangevale home after a 9-1-1 call stated the 5 year old was unresponsive after swallowing water in the bathtub, according to Sacramento County Sheriff's Office documents. Sacramento Metro Fire crews arrived on the scene and found Zachary dry and in a bedroom fully clothed. The child was transported to a local hospital where he later passed away. Sheriff's Child Abuse detectives responded to the scene to investigate the circumstances surrounding the child's death. Evidence showed "extensive abuse" and an autopsy determined that the child died of "water submersion and blunt force injuries," according to court documents. Caldwell was convicted of second-degree murder and child assault causing death. Prater was convicted of first-degree murder by torture, child assault causing death and child abuse with great bodily injury causing death.