Pittsburgh-Area Man Setenced For Beating Infant Daughter To Death

PITTSBURGH, PA - Joseph Gazzam will spend 21-t0-42 years in prison for beating his four-month old daughter to death when she wouldn't stop crying after he changed her diaper. Gazzam, 31, of Mt. Lebanon, was sentenced Wednesday following his conviction last month on third-degree murder charges in connection with Victoria Gazzam's death.

Gazzam also was sentenced to eight years of probation.

Gazzam initially said the girl was fatally injured in November 2017 after falling out of bed. But after the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office determined the extent of the infant's injuries during an autopsy, he admitted he beat her after she became "fussy."

The Medical Examiner's Office said the infant died of blunt force trauma to the head and trunk and ruled the death a homicide. Autopsy results indicated the baby suffered a lacerated heart and kidney, broken arm, three fractured ribs, multiple contusions to the back and head and a
hemorrhage behind the eyes.

The infant's mother was at work when the beating occurred, police said. On Wednesday, she told the judge to let Gazzam "rot in jail," according to KDKA-TV.