Overview

• Dixie Villa was sentenced to 20 years in prison for manslaughter after administering a fatal dose of diphenhydramine to 7-month-old Abigail Lobisch in 2019.
• The autopsy confirmed the infant’s death was caused by diphenhydramine toxicity, a medication not recommended for children under six without a prescription.
• Prosecutors argued Villa gave the drug to pacify Abigail while caring for multiple young children, a claim the defense contested by suggesting alternative sources of exposure.
• The judge emphasized the severity of the case, stating the maximum sentence was the only appropriate outcome given the evidence presented.
• Villa’s legal team is preparing an appeal, signaling that the case remains under judicial review, while the victim’s family expressed relief at the sentencing outcome.