Babysitter sentenced in death of 4-year-old left at home in Newark

NEWARK (WABC) -- A babysitter is headed to prison after being sentenced in connection with the death of a 4-year-old who fell out of bed in Newark.

Prosecutors in Essex County announced that Sykita Covington, 40, of Newark was sentenced to three years in New Jersey State Prison for leaving four children home alone, resulting in the death of Naira Bennett.

Covington was babysitting for Bennett, a 2-year-old boy, and taking care of her own two children, ages one year old and three years old, when she left them all alone in an apartment at the Bradley Court housing complex in Newark, authorities say.

While Covington was out, Naira Bennett became trapped inside a futon, which closed around her head and body. A neighbor found the child unresponsive, and she was pronounced dead at a hospital several hours later.

"Though she did not intend to cause the child's death, she left four innocent children below the age of five without adult supervision, resulting in the death of a four year old,'' said Assistant Prosecutor Kathleen Lyons-Boswick.

The other children were not hurt.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Covington pled guilty in April to two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Covington has been held at the Essex County Correctional Facility since May 7, 2014.

At the time she left the children alone, prosecutors say Covington, who admitted previously having a drug problem, was on five years federal probation for committing bank fraud.