The courtroom was tense as the mother of Kenslee Spears, a 5-month-old infant who died on July 18, 2019, sobbed inconsolably on Friday upon hearing the life sentence handed down to the man convicted of her daughter’s death.
Prosecutors asserted that Kenslee had been killed by Derek Bush, a 41-year-old Roseville resident and the mother’s live-in boyfriend. Bush was convicted of first-degree murder and second-degree child endangerment, receiving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
In addition, he must register as a violent offender for 10 years. On the night of Kenslee's death, Assistant Prosecutor Ron Welch explained, Kenslee’s mother left her home around 9:30 p.m., entrusting Bush with the care of Kenslee and her twin brother.
Just over half an hour later, at 10:03 p.m., Bush left a voicemail on her phone, frantically urging her to call 911 because Kenslee wasn’t breathing. When Kenslee’s mother rushed back to the house, she found neither her baby nor Bush there.
Welch described how Bush, claiming his phone had died, had taken the infant to a nearby fire department for help. When Kenslee’s mother arrived at the fire department, she was shocked to see that her infant daughter had a black eye, a bleeding nose, and a significant bruise on one side of her face.
Welch detailed how an autopsy report later revealed that Kenslee had suffered multiple blunt force traumas to the head, injuries inconsistent with a mere accident.
Despite his conviction, Bush continued to insist the baby’s death was unintentional. At the defense table, he apologized to Kenslee’s family, expressing remorse and maintaining that her death was a tragic accident.
His attorney, Keith Edwards, argued that Bush had been devastated since the night Kenslee died, emphasizing that Bush had been both high and drunk and had attempted CPR while running to get help.
Edwards claimed Bush’s inebriated state led to him tripping and falling, causing the fatal injuries. "I don’t believe he had it in him to be violent," Edwards said. "He loved Kenslee and wouldn’t have hurt her intentionally.
The injuries she sustained were tragic consequences of his efforts to save her life." Edwards described how Bush, after laying Kenslee in a playpen, returned to find her unresponsive and panicked, allegedly resulting in the unfortunate fall.
Prosecutor Welch refuted these claims, pointing to medical evidence that contradicted Bush's account. Kenslee’s injuries, including brain hemorrhaging from blunt force trauma, a black eye, rib fractures, and bruises under her chin, suggested that her injuries were inflicted intentionally rather than caused by a fall. Welch argued that such severe injuries would not be consistent with Bush’s explanation of a stumble.
Ultimately, the judge sentenced Bush to life in prison, acknowledging the gravity of the evidence and the loss endured by Kenslee’s family. Although some justice was served, Welch noted, it could never replace the young life that was tragically cut short.
