A Milwaukee woman is now taking responsibility for the death of 1-year-old Princess Lard five years ago.
Artesia Lockhart, 32, on Thursday changed her plea to “no contest” regarding a charge of physical abuse of a child, causing great bodily harm.
“No contest” is a plea that allows a defendant to accept conviction without admitting guilt.
Princess Lard
Sentencing will be Feb. 28 before Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Rebecca A. Kiefer.
Here’s what prosecutors say happened to Princess Lard
Milwaukee firefighters were called to Princess’ father’s home on the 2500 block of North 34th Street on Dec. 28, 2019, just before 9:30 a.m. on a report about an unresponsive infant.
The child was found with no pulse, laying on a bed on a mattress that was not appropriate for her age and size. First responders gave her three rounds of epinephrine, but were unable to revive her. She was pronounced dead at 10:11 a.m.
According to a criminal complaint, Lockhart and several people were in the home at the time, including Princess’ father, who is Lockhart’s boyfriend, and five children, ages 8 to 6 months.
A forensic pathologist later found Princess had broken ribs, bruising and a hair barrette lodged in her throat. The Milwaukee County medical examiner said she died of asphyxiation, and ruled the manner of her death an accident.
Princess Lard died at her father’s home Dec. 28, 2019. Artesia Lockhart, her father’s partner, pleaded ‘no contest’ on Jan. 16, 2025, to charges stemming from the child’s death.
Here’s how prosecutors say Artesia Lockhart became a suspect
Statements made later by at least one of the children who was in the home at the time Princess died cast suspicion on Lockhart; the child claimed to have witnessed Lockhart throw Princess to the ground, and “shake and choke” her “on multiple occasions,” the complaint said.
Princess’ uncle also told investigators he had to intervene when he saw Lockhart hit the child three times on Christmas Day, the document said.
Rachel Lard, Princess’ mother, had primary care of her daughter; Princess spent some weekends with the father. Lard told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in a 2019 profile she began noticing injuries on her daughter after visits with the father the summer before Princess died.
Each time, Lard took Princess to a doctor for an examination. Lard was eventually blamed for the injuries and primary custody was given to the father.
Princess Lard died at her father’s home Dec. 28, 2019. Artesia Lockhart, her father’s partner, pleaded ‘no contest’ on Jan. 16, 2025, to charges stemming from the child’s death.
“It feels like I’m still not getting the justice my baby deserves,” Lard said in the interview.
Lockhart also pleaded guilty to bail jumping in the case.
As part of Lockhart’s deal with prosecutors, that charge will be dismissed but read into the court record for sentencing purposes.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee woman pleads no contest in death of 1-year-old Princess Lard