Mother Who Set Her Baby on Fire Last Year Sentenced

The South Jersey woman who set her her newborn baby on fire last year has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi said on Friday.

Hyphernkemberly Dorvilier, 23, of Pemberton, previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, admitting she set her newborn on fire on the night of Jan. 16, 2015. The charge was amended from a previous charge of murder as part of the plea deal.

She must serve 85 percent of her term before becoming eligible for parole.

“During this child’s short time on earth, she experienced nothing but pain and suffering caused by the hands of her own mother,” Bernardi said. “This was an atrocious act, and one that was entirely preventable given our state’s law that allows someone to anonymously give up an unwanted infant.”

Her attorney argued for a lesser sentence, claiming she was the victim of a sexual assault that resulted in her pregnancy, according to the Burlington County Times.

Her plea deal was offered after results of her psychiatric evaluation were received earlier this month in response to her plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

Dorvilier told residents of Simontown Road who came to see what was happening that she was burning dog feces.

The infant then began to cry and Dorvilier attempted to flee but was restrained by residents.

The umbilical cord and placenta were still attached to the baby when police arrived on the scene.

The baby, later named Angel, was airlifted to Saint Christopher’s Hospital in Philadelphia and was reported to be alive and breathing at that time. The baby died approximately two hours later.

According to Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood, the baby died of smoke inhalation.

Her family didn't know she was pregnant.

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