HONOLULU, HI – A woman convicted of manslaughter for operating an unlicensed day care where an infant died from a drug overdose received a 20-year prison sentence. Dixie Denise Villa ran the illegal day care from a home within the Aliamanu Military Reservation on Oahu, defying multiple shutdown orders from authorities.
In February 2019, 7-month-old Abigail died after ingesting a fatal dose of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, which should not be administered to children under six without medical supervision. The jury found Villa guilty in November, leading to her severe sentencing decision this week.
“The amount of Benadryl in Abigail’s system was dangerously excessive,” said Judge Faaunga To’oto’o during the sentencing. “It should never have been given to any minor, especially not to an infant.”
Abigail’s mother, Anna Lobisch, expressed her enduring grief during the proceedings, noting the more than 2,260 days since her daughter’s death. “Every day is a struggle,” she said, “as I carry the pain of losing Abi, hoping one day we might be reunited.”
Prosecutors successfully argued for the maximum penalty, emphasizing Villa’s responsibility in the tragedy and the lack of remorse she showed. Meanwhile, Villa’s defense attorney, Megan Kau, requested probation, arguing that Villa posed no threat to the public. Kau highlighted that Villa has two children, including one with special needs, now in the custody of her ex-husband, an active-duty sailor.
Kau’s plea for leniency centered on the impact Villa’s imprisonment would have on her children, suggesting probation would still serve as a punitive measure. However, the judge sided with the prosecution, leading to the stringent sentence.
The tragic incident underscores the critical importance of regulation and oversight in child care settings, especially as unlicensed operations continue to pose risks to safety and well-being.
Villa’s conviction and sentencing illustrate the severe consequences of neglecting child safety laws, urging others to adhere strictly to legal requirements for child care services. As the community processes the outcome, the focus remains on preventing such tragic incidents in the future.