Syied Epps showed little emotion as a Kentucky judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison for killing his 9-month-old daughter by slamming her to the ground — an act he later dismissed during his courtroom statement as "the mistake that I've made."
The infant, Sykia Epps, died from severe brain trauma less than a week after arriving at a Lexington hospital with life-threatening injuries on July 26, 2023. She was pronounced dead in early August of that year.
Background
The violence unfolded at a residence on Whitney Avenue in Lexington, Kentucky. According to testimony during a preliminary hearing, other children in the home witnessed the abuse that killed Sykia. Detective Paul Hogan of the Lexington Police Department testified that three siblings provided consistent accounts of what happened.
"All three stated that Mr. Epps had dropped their sister on her head," Hogan said, according to WKYT. "One articulated that quote, 'Daddy smashed her on her head really hard and she was upside down.'"
Initially, Epps denied any involvement. Law enforcement investigators said he originally claimed the child was under the care of a babysitter named Eric — a person he could not describe beyond a physical appearance, providing no last name or contact information.
The narrative unraveled when surveillance footage placed Epps at home during the timeframe in question. He eventually admitted his alibi was false.
The Investigation
What began as an assault charge was upgraded to murder after Sykia succumbed to her injuries. In May, Epps, now 31 years old, pleaded guilty to one count of murder via domestic violence. Prosecutors dropped an additional charge of being a persistent felony offender under the terms of the plea agreement.
During sentencing this week, Epps addressed the court in allocution. "I'm truly sorry for my actions, and I pray that one day they can find it in their heart to forgive me for the mistake that I've made," he said. "I'm truly sorry."
The apology fell flat. From the gallery, Sykia's mother, Markettia Epps, shouted her response: "I hate you. You are cruel. You are not a father. You're not a man. You're not nothing. It wasn't a mistake. You knew what you did to her."
When she later took the stand, grief overwhelmed her as she clutched a necklace containing her daughter's cremated remains.
"I have her ashes on my chest, Syied," she said, addressing the man who killed their daughter. "Our daughter is on my chest."
Key Takeaways
- Epps was sentenced to 25 years in prison with credit for nearly three years spent in pretrial detention
- He pleaded guilty to murder via domestic violence in connection with his daughter's July 2023 death
- Three siblings witnessed the abuse that killed 9-month-old Sykia, telling investigators 'Daddy smashed her on her head really hard'
- Epps initially blamed a fictional babysitter before surveillance footage contradicted his account
- The victim's mother rejected his courtroom apology, saying he deserved life imprisonment rather than 25 years
What's Next
Epps will serve his sentence in a Kentucky state correctional facility. While the criminal case has concluded with sentencing, Sykia's mother expressed that justice remains elusive — telling reporters she believes her daughter's killer deserves life behind bars.
"I don't have 25 with her, I only had nine months with her," Markettia Epps said after the hearing. "The same thing that he did to her needs to happen to him."