It’s difficult to fathom, but some of the most gruesome crimes against children often come at the hands of family members. This tragically includes infants. Recently, a Texas father was sentenced after sexually assaulting and suffocating his 8-month-old daughter.
Luis Luna, 27, of Houston, finally received his sentence for crimes committed more than four years ago. In 2020, his 8-month-old daughter, Savayah Mason, died. And what her autopsy unveiled was nothing short of horrific.
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On October 3, the Texas father was sentenced to life in prison.
On October 3, 2024, Luna was convicted of capital murder after a 10-day trial and automatically sentenced to life in prison. He was accused of sexually assaulting and suffocating baby Savayah, the Harris County Attorney’s Office announced in a news release published on October 4. Luna “will never be eligible for parole and will never be released from prison,” the release noted.
The crimes happened in August 2020.
On August 24, 2020, Harris County sheriff’s deputies and other emergency personnel responded to an apartment in the Alief area of Houston after reports of an infant who stopped breathing. Savayah was not responsive, despite their efforts. The 8-month-old was transported via ambulance to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
An autopsy revealed Savayah's cause of death — and that she was sexually assaulted.
Following an autopsy, horrific details about what happened to Savayah came to light. Evidence showed the 8-month-old died of suffocation. Marks on her neck and ligature marks revealed the infant had been bound. Additionally, evidence showed she was sexually assaulted.
KPCR-TV reported that Luna’s mother (who was separated from Luna) dropped off Savayah to spend time with him when she was killed.
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The Harris County district attorney issued a statement following Luna's sentencing.
“This baby couldn’t walk or talk, and she should have been with someone who kept her safe, but instead he abused that trust,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in the news release. “Children are the most vulnerable victims in our community, and the people who hurt them often try to escape accountability — that is why we have specialized prosecutors working in the Child Fatality Section.”
Additionally, the assistant district attorney called Luna's crimes the 'worst kind of evil.'
“What this defendant did was one of the most horrific acts of violence imaginable — it’s the worst kind of evil in the world,” Assistant District Attorney Edward A. Appelbaum said in the news release. “We are grateful to the jury for listening to all of the evidence and handing down a just verdict because the facts in the case are so brutal that no one wants to believe that it’s real.”
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
