Gionni Sellers Convicted of Killing 3-year-old, Faces 25 Years to Life

A jury in Orange County found 26-year-old Gionni Sellers guilty of Murder in the Second Degree and Manslaughter in the First Degree for the death of a three-year-old child in his care. The conviction came after a trial before the Honorable Craig Stephen Brown and followed less than an hour of jury deliberations, prosecutors said.

The charges stem from events in May and June 2022, when Sellers was responsible for watching the child, the son of his girlfriend. Police were called to the residence in June after the child was found unresponsive and not breathing. First responders performed life-saving measures but the child was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. An investigation determined Sellers inflicted blunt force trauma to the child’s head and torso in the days before the death, and that severe trauma to the brain caused the child’s death.

Prosecutors presented further evidence from Sellers’s phone, including internet searches such as "why do younger men want to hurt baby" and "baby breathing heavy after being shook." The jury unanimously concluded that Sellers had recklessly engaged in conduct creating a grave risk of death to the child, under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life.

District Attorney David M. Hoovler, who announced the conviction, thanked investigating agencies and emphasized the gravity of the conduct. “The conduct of this defendant, as proven beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury of his peers, showed that this defendant’s depraved and wicked actions caused the senseless death of a vulnerable child,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “I said at the outset of this case, and I now reiterate that my Office, together with our law enforcement partners, demanded justice for the victim in this case to give voice to the voiceless. It is through the dedication and hard work of both police and prosecutors that this defendant has been held to account for his horrendous crimes.”

The investigation was led by the Town of Wallkill Police Department, assisted by the New York State Police, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Tanja Beemer and Assistant District Attorney Peter Fernandez.

Sellers was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail and faces up to 25 years to life when he is sentenced on March 10, 2026. This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

For Orange County residents, the case underscores concerns about caregiver oversight, child welfare and the role of local law enforcement in protecting vulnerable children. The March sentencing and any subsequent community or policy response will be closely watched by families and local officials across Wallkill, Middletown and the broader Hudson Valley.