Sturgis, Michigan – A southern Michigan woman has been sentenced to decades in prison after authorities determined she suffocated her 2-year-old daughter by forcing her face into a couch because the child would not take a nap.
Paige Bohne, 22, will serve 18 to 45 years in prison for first-degree child abuse and an additional 4 to 10 years for assault with intent to cause great bodily harm, according to reports from Wilcox Newspapers. The sentences will run concurrently, and Bohne received credit for 406 days already served.
What led to the sentencing
The case stems from events on November 7, 2024, when Bohne called 911 to report that she had found her daughter, Octavia Bohne, unresponsive inside their home at a mobile home park in Sturgis. First responders arrived and pronounced the toddler dead at the scene.
An autopsy later ruled the child’s cause of death as suffocation.
Prosecutors said Bohne later admitted her daughter died “because she wouldn’t take a nap,” telling investigators she pushed the child into a couch and held her down until she stopped resisting.
Disturbing details revealed in court
During sentencing, Deborah Davis described Bohne’s actions as “unconscionable,” outlining a series of decisions that led to the child’s death.
According to the prosecution, Bohne did not give her daughter breakfast that morning except for “a handful” of melatonin gummies, a dose prosecutors said was nearly three times what an adult would take at peak concentration.
Davis told the court Bohne was attempting to force the toddler back to sleep so she could text with her boyfriend, use TikTok, and make herself food, rather than care for the child.
Authorities further alleged that Bohne escalated the situation by placing a blanket over her daughter and holding her down forcefully, smothering her.
“The melatonin wouldn’t have killed her. The respiratory issues wouldn’t have killed her,” Davis said, according to Wilcox Newspapers. “But having her face shoved into a couch until she stopped moving — that would do it.”
Prosecutors said Bohne did not immediately check on the child after restraining her, a lapse in judgment they described as almost impossible to comprehend.
Plea deal avoided murder charges
In July 2025, Bohne agreed to plead no contest to the child abuse and assault charges. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed charges of murder and conspiracy to commit child abuse, significantly reducing her potential sentence exposure.
Davis emphasized that while prosecutors did not believe Bohne set out with the intent to kill her daughter, they argued she knowingly created a dangerous situation that resulted in the child’s death.
“She knowingly did it, and now she’s trying to rationalize it, minimize it, cover it up,” Davis said in court.
Family speaks on the loss
Octavia’s grandfather, Charles Bohne, addressed the court, describing the aftermath of the child’s death as surreal and devastating.
“It’s like waking up in a nightmare,” he said, according to Kalamazoo Gazette. “You just wish you can wake up and not be there. I just want to know what happened to her. It’s all that matters right now.”
Remembering Octavia Bohne
In her obituary, Octavia was remembered as “a happy yet mischievous little girl” who was vibrant, cheerful, and always smiling. Family members described her love for cheese puffs, watching Peppa Pig and Mickey Mouse, and dancing to “Baby Shark.”
She enjoyed anything pink, loved butterflies, and was known as a cuddler. Her obituary noted she shared a special bond with her grandfather and was especially close to her aunt, Alyssa.
Community impact and closing
Sturgis, located in southern Michigan roughly two and a half hours from Detroit, is a small community where the case has left residents shaken. Prosecutors said the sentence reflects both the severity of the abuse and the need to protect vulnerable children.
Bohne will remain incarcerated under the terms of her sentence, with parole eligibility determined by Michigan law.
If you or someone you know suspects child abuse or neglect, authorities urge reporting concerns immediately to local law enforcement or child protective services. Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below.
