Man Sentenced in Murder of Cinnaminson 1-Year-Old Girl

A Shamong man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for killing his girlfriend’s 1-year-old foster child in Cinnaminson in 2013, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi said on Thursday.

Steven R. Donaldson, 32, must serve 17 years of the term without the possibility of parole.

Donaldson was convicted of aggravated manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child on Nov. 19 following a five-week trial.

Donaldson was indicted for murder in May of 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the charge in November of 2013.

He was caring for the toddler—who had celebrated her first birthday the day before her death—while his girlfriend was at work on Feb. 12 of that year.

He called 911 just before 8 p.m. to report that Nunes had stopped breathing.

Law enforcement and emergency medical technicians were unable to revive her.

Donaldson claimed that Claudia fell and struck her head on the floor as he was preparing to change her diaper.

However, an autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood concluded the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

Hood testified during the trial that Nunes’ injuries included a fractured skull, brain swelling and bleeding.

The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Cinnaminson Township Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office.

He still faces a separate charge of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. The charge stems from Oct. 29, 2015 when New Jersey State Police went to Donaldson’s home to discuss a hit-and-run accident that occurred earlier that day and found heroin and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle and on his person.

The attached image of Steven Donaldson was provided by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office