A Minnesota mother was sentenced to more than 31 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her 18-month-old daughter, a case prosecutors said involved pouring a 'significant amount' of sleep medication into the child's bottle.
Background
Maige Elizabeth Yang, 24, had been locked in a custody dispute over her daughter, De'Ali Blia Delgado. On Jan. 9, a judge granted temporary custody to the girl's father, Erick Delgado, during a court hearing that day, according to a probable cause arrest affidavit. When Yang returned home with De'Ali following the proceeding, she took the toddler upstairs to a bedroom.
Yang's parents told investigators their daughter had been upset after losing custody. Her father told police he later tried to enter the locked bedroom but found the door blocked. After forcing his way inside, he discovered his granddaughter on the floor with her lips turning blue. He grabbed the child and ran downstairs before calling 911.
De'Ali's obituary described a child who loved mashed potatoes and horchata, adored books and musical instruments, and was 'always talking in her own sweet way' while 'dancing, bouncing up and down with delight.'
The Investigation
Police in Champlin, a Minneapolis suburb, responded to a home on the 11900 block of Castle Rock Court around 4 p.m. Upon arrival, officers found both Yang and her daughter in medical distress. Authorities said Yang had also attempted suicide. Both were rushed to the hospital, where De'Ali was pronounced dead.
After receiving her Miranda rights, Yang admitted to investigators what she had done, according to police. She acknowledged pouring a 'significant amount' of sleep medication into her daughter's bottle to 'make the pain go away,' then fed the mixture to De'Ali hoping the girl would 'pass peacefully in her sleep,' the probable cause affidavit stated.
De'Ali's father, Erick Delgado, created a GoFundMe page following his daughter's death. In a post describing her as his 'beautiful princess,' he wrote: 'It's with my heart shattered that I write this post. My baby girl De'Ali Blia Delgado was not just taken away from me. She was murdered.'
The Charges
Yang was charged with second-degree murder. She pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to more than 31 years in prison, according to court records. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office prosecuted the case.
Key Takeaways
- Maige Elizabeth Yang, 24, sentenced to more than 31 years after pleading guilty to second-degree murder
- Victim De'Ali Blia Delgado was 18 months old at the time of her death on Jan. 9
- Yang admitted to pouring sleep medication into her daughter's bottle hoping the child would 'pass peacefully in her sleep'
- Custody had been granted to the child's father just hours before the incident following a court hearing
- Yang also attempted suicide and was found in medical distress alongside her daughter when police arrived
What's Next
Yang will serve her sentence in a Minnesota state correctional facility, though a specific transfer date has not yet been announced by the Department of Corrections. Under Minnesota law, convicted individuals sentenced to more than one year typically begin serving their term in a state prison rather than a county jail, with intake processing and assignment procedures expected to unfold over the coming weeks.
The sentencing carries standard appellate rights, meaning Yang's legal team may file an appeal within 90 days of conviction challenging aspects of the plea agreement or sentence calculation. However, given that she pleaded guilty voluntarily and received the agreed-upon term negotiated with prosecutors, appeals in such cases are relatively rare. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has indicated the case is considered resolved from their end following the completion of criminal proceedings.
For Erick Delgado, who was granted custody just hours before his daughter's death, the case marks a devastating chapter that extends beyond the courtroom. He retains legal custody rights and may pursue formal closure through any remaining civil matters related to guardianship arrangements established prior to January 9. In his GoFundMe post following De'Ali's death, he described her as his 'beautiful princess' whose loss left him with his 'heart shattered,' suggesting the family may continue processing their grief outside of court proceedings.