[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
An Alabama toddler was found horrifically slain in her father’s bathtub — and now, finally, her parents are pleading guilty.
Back in October 2021, police were called in for a welfare check on Aydah DiMaso. Sadly they found the 3-year-old’s body in her dad’s bathtub, per multiple outlets. The gut-wrenching discovery only got worse, though, as it was concluded at the time she suffered over 50 signs of trauma.
The Gadsden Times reported her body had fresh, recent bruising. The poor girl’s father, Nikolas Joseph DiMaso, even admitted to some unthinkable acts — saying he was guilty of “slamming” his little girl to the ground and “kicking her in the stomach” among other physical abuse. So senseless and infuriating! That poor baby…
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To make matters even more heartbreaking, Aydah’s family said in a GoFundMe campaign that they’d been trying everything they could to get custody of the toddler before her death:
“Aydah was a sweet soul with an infectious giggle, loved deeply by her Grandparents who had been fighting for custody of her. The system let her down, and so sadly, this tragedy was utterly preventable.”
If you’d like to donate to the family, you can do so by clicking HERE.
Back in June 2024, the family’s attorney Tommy James made a statement about the tragedy, saying it was completely preventable if she weren’t failed by the system:
“This case represents an egregious failure of the system that is supposed to protect our most vulnerable children. Aydah’s death could and should have been prevented. We are seeking justice for Aydah and accountability for those whose conduct resulted in her tragic death.”
Luckily, though, the family are on the way to getting some measure of justice. Alongside Nikolas, the girl’s stepmother, Haley Dee Metz, was arrested in connection to the murder.
In a statement to People this week, Etowah District Attorney Jody Willoughby confirmed Haley has now entered a blind guilty plea to aggravated child abuse. She will face a judge in November. Meanwhile Nikolas already sealed his fate, pleading guilty to capital murder and conspiracy to commit child abuse three months ago. He’s serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The family’s attorney summed up the entire ordeal to local outlet WBRC last year:
“What this child suffered from is just horrific. You can’t even imagine.”
So, so terribly sad. Our hearts go out to Aydah’s loved ones. May she get the justice she deserves.
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
[Image via Gadsden Police Department]
