Missouri Mother Who Launched GoFundMe After Infant’s Death Now Charged With Second‑Degree Murder

Stephanie Hernandez, 29, and her former partner, Jonathan Gaona, 33, have been charged with second‑degree murder and child abuse after the Feb. 11, 2025, death of Hernandez’s two‑month‑old daughter in Greene County, Missouri.

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, Hernandez launched a GoFundMe page for the baby’s funeral in the days following the infant’s death. Investigators later concluded the child’s death was a homicide.

Allegations From The Affidavit

The affidavit alleges that two days before the infant died, Gaona was caring for the baby and left her in a bathtub with hot water running. He reportedly told investigators he had been responsible for watching six children—five of whom he is the father of—while Hernandez worked.

The two-month old vicitmStephanie Hernandez/GoFundMe

Investigators say Gaona left the infant "soaking in her own urine for half a day." When he later checked on her, he noticed the baby’s skin was peeling and applied creams and baby powder, believing it would help the wounds “heal like a turtle.” The affidavit also describes injuries to the child’s ears.

“He advised he grabbed her by the ears, shaking her head back and forth,”

“He admitted that he did it on purpose because everyone was crying and he couldn’t get Victim 1 to calm down,”

The affidavit states Gaona said the ear incident occurred after the child had already sustained a burn on her body.

Hernandez’s Actions And Medical Findings

Prosecutors allege that when Hernandez returned home the following Monday morning, she determined medical attention was unnecessary, treated the redness with corn starch, and later went out that night. The next morning Gaona reported the infant was deceased.

Stephanie HernandezGreene County Sheriff's Office

The Greene County medical examiner ruled the manner of death a homicide, listing the cause as “complications of thermal burns” and citing contributing factors including blunt‑force head injuries, acute pneumonia and methamphetamine toxicity.

Both Hernandez and Gaona entered not guilty pleas to all charges during a court appearance. Bond review hearings for each defendant are scheduled for March 11.

Note: All allegations come from the probable cause affidavit and medical examiner’s findings; defendants have pleaded not guilty and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.