Tami Huntsman transferred to state prison

UPDATE: 5/22/2018 1:48 p.m. Tami Huntsman, the woman who killed two children and abused a third under her care, has now been moved to state prison.

Hunstman was moved Tuesday morning from Monterey County Jail to a women’s facility in Chowchilla, California. She will go through the intake process and jail officials will decide where she will spend the rest of her life.

Last week, a judge sentenced Huntsman to two terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole, three additional life sentences, plus nine years for the abuse and murders of Shaun and Delylah Tara and the abuse of their older sister.

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Tami Huntsman, the woman accused of killing two children and abusing a third under her care, has been sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of parole.

In February, she pleaded guilty to all eight charges stemming from the 2015 murders of Shaun Tara, 6, and Delylah Tara, 3, and the abuse and torture of the children’s older half-sister.

The children’s bodies were found in a Redding storage facility, while the surviving victim was found in Huntsman’s care in Plumas County.

“She’s going to die in prison,” said Berkley Brannon, chief assistant DA for the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. “There will be no further appeals, no further litigation and we were able to save the children in this case from having to testify in two separate proceedings. So, justice was done.”

Huntsman’s plea deal spared her the death penalty and years of potential litigation. In February Judge Pamela Butler read the agreement aloud in court:

“I willfully failed to provide adequate food to Jane Doe, Shaun Tara and Delylah Tara causing them to suffer from starvation and extreme malnutrition. I willfully failed to provide adequate shelter to Jane Doe, Shaun Tara and Delylah Tara causing them to suffer hypothermia from being confined in a wet cement shower for extended periods of time. I violently battered Jane Doe, Shaun Tara and Delylah Tara causing each child to suffer great bodily injury. I willfully failed to provide necessary medical care to Jane Doe, Shaun Tara and Delylah Tara. I willfully permitted Gonzalo Curiel to do each of the above listed acts and omissions. My acts and omissions, along with the acts and omissions of Gonzalo Curiel caused the deaths of Shaun Tara and Delylah Tara. I intended to kill Shaun Tara and Delylah Tara. I intended to inflict extreme physical pain and suffering upon Jane Doe, Shaun Tara and Delylah Tara for a sadistic purpose. Shaun Tara and Delylah Tara died during the commission of the crime of torture in violation of penal code 206. I knowingly conspired with Gonzalo Curiel to commit the crime of child abuse and torture against Jane Doe. I intended that one or more of us would commit the crimes of child abuse and torture at least overt act was committed in further conspiracy in the state of California and the county of Monterey.”

Butler said in court, “I do think this sentence is just, I do think it’s an appropriate sentence.”

Huntsman didn’t say anything in court, rather was shielded by her attorneys. She could be seen wiping tears from her eyes as she awaited final judgment.

The surviving victim wrote a letter that was read aloud in court by a District Attorney’s Office Investigator, who cried at one point.

“I would like to express myself by telling it was a horrible experience for my siblings and me to be in pain and sadness in that apartment. I would like to inform that it was very sad for me to hear that my siblings, Shaun and Delylah have passed away, especially when I was in the hospital, which was not good news for me to hear. What Tami and Gonzo have put in my life was the worst thing that I experienced. If I could, I would’ve stopped it myself but sadly, I was weak and tired. I wanted my sister and brother to know what life meant. Not the meaning of being hurt, sad and killed. I will never have the chance to show them that and how it felt.
What I miss about Shaun was his style, laugh, character and his “man walk,” plus he was smart. He was the best brother I could have. He would never let me down.
Delylah was the prettiest sister I ever seen. For her to live that bad way and not the good, that affects my heart. She was very young and I barely got to know her. But she would’ve been very intelligent as she grew in life. Guess what? She can’t because of Tami and Gonzo. This is what Delylah and Shaun would’ve thought or felt: hurt, uncomfortable, sad, unhappy, disappointed, weak, in pain, not loved. Those would have been their thoughts, probably. Those do not sound good now do they? Not really because that’s what it looked like or sounded like.
So let me tell you how I, Jane Doe, felt about this incident. I felt like I was done for good and no one cared anymore. But deep down I knew somehow I would be saved again. Yes, I did get saved soon after they found a new home that they liked. When I mean they, I mean Gonzo and Tami.
When I thought about it, I realized that everything has a season and people can change when they want to, even your aunt and friends. Also, it’s not good to dislike someone for a long time, so at this time, I would like to say I forgive Tami Huntsman and Gonzalo Curiel for their actions. I’m proud to say this case has finally ended. By, Jane Doe.”

“She’s gone through a lot of therapy,” said Deputy District Attorney Steve Somers. “Her adopted parents have helped her… The best way to live life is without hating someone and so she chose to forgive them. It’s not something I’m ready to do but I understand where she’s coming from and I think it’s wonderful for her.”

The now 12 year old girl lives somewhere in Northern California with her foster parents who later adopted her. She’s been trying to give back by giving toys to the hospital where she was cared for.

“Not long after she got out of the hospital, she employed some of her friends,” Somers said. “They all drew pictures, they then sold the pictures, and they got some money together and got some toys. At the time, her foster mother who is now her adopted mother, took her back to the hospital to hand out the toys to the kids in the hospital, so she could give back a little bit.”

Other impact statements were submitted in court, including some from Shaun and Delylah’s paternal grandmother and aunt. Friends and family of Huntsman submitted letters talking about Huntsman’s character, saying she is a good person. Huntsman’s eldest daughter wrote that she “won’t make excuses for her mom or forget what has happened but has forgiven her.”

Prosecutors originally wanted to pursue the death penalty, but didn’t believe Jane Doe would ever get closure.

“Ironically, the death penalty is supposed to be a final sentence but the reality is, it’s the least final sentence,” Somers said. “It’s guaranteed to be appealed over and over and over again for the rest of the victims’ lives, certainly for the rest of Tami Huntsman’s life. It would be in question what would happen, because we have executed a woman in over 50 years. So the reality is, that was the last thing the victims were going to get was closure, if we continued to seek the death penalty.”

It’s now up to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to decide where Huntsman will spend the rest of her life. There are two women’s facilities in the state.

Gonzalo Curiel was found guilty for his role in the crimes on June 29. He will be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years, since he was a minor when the crimes were committed.