TULSA Okla. – A Cherokee teenager was sentenced yesterday to more than 17 years in federal prison for second degree murder of a toddler, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Chief Judge John F Heil III sentenced Cherokee citizen Terry Nathan Hindman, 19, of Bartlesville to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
“This young child suffered horrible abuse and a tragic death from the abuse of Terry Hindman,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to fight for justice against those who harm Oklahoma’s children.”
During the sentencing, Judge Heil addressed the family saying that he “would like to create a sentence that will heal the pain, but I can’t do that.” He further addressed the defendant stating, “You can’t possibly make up for the damage you’ve done, but moving forward you can try.”
The father of the victim addressed the court about Hindman before sentencing and said, “I fear he enjoyed giving him (the child) something to cry about;” and “What possible excuse could you have for torturing a child?” The father further stated, “Our memories of our son are now haunted by memories of pain.”
In a statement read to the court, Dylan Chapman, the uncle of the victim said, “Words cannot fully capture the depth of pain our family has suffered. There is nothing more heartbreaking than seeing a dying child.”
During his plea on May 9, 2022, Hindman admitted that on Sept. 29, 2021, he threw the 23-month-old victim causing the injuries that killed him. Hindman stated that he intentionally threw the victim “from across the room onto a couch in the apartment with excessive force.” Hindman said the child “hit his head on the wall behind the couch and landed on a table in front of the couch striking his head. Afterwards, he stumbled around and seem dazed.” Hindman did not seek medical attention for the toddler and did not tell anyone of the incident, including doctors when the child was taken to the hospital later that day.
Hindman further admitted that on Oct. 2, 2021, he was again watching the child when he began having medical problems and appeared to be having a hard time breathing. Hindman stated, “I did not seek medical care,” but the toddler was taken to the hospital and “I again failed to tell anyone of his previous injury.”
The child died from blunt force trauma on Oct. 7, 2021, because of his original injury on Sept. 29, 2021.
Hindman will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bartlesville Police Department and FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chantelle Dial and Shannon Cozzoni prosecuted the case.
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