BABY KILLER | Transgender woman who strangled baby stepdaughter walks free
A convicted child killer who strangled an 11-month-old baby to death has been quietly released from prison decades before the end of her sentence.
Jonathan Richardson, now going by Autumn Cordellione, walked free from an Indiana prison in late December 2025 after serving less than half of a 55-year sentence handed down in 2002 for the murder of her infant stepdaughter.
The Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office said it only learned of the release after a member of the public recognised the convicted killer in the community.
"We were not notified," the office said in a statement, expressing concern over the lack of communication from the Indiana Department of Corrections.
The IDOC has offered no public explanation for the early release, but the timing has fuelled intense speculation.
For years, Richardson had waged a legal campaign demanding the state fund gender-affirming surgeries, including breast implants and genital reconstruction, arguing the denial amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.
In September 2024, a court granted a preliminary injunction ordering corrections authorities to provide the procedures — a ruling that would have forced taxpayers to foot the bill.
Critics have suggested the department may have released the prisoner to sidestep the costly surgical mandate, though officials have not confirmed or denied the claim.
Richardson's conviction stemmed from the September 2001 killing of their partner's 11-month-old daughter while the child's mother was at work.
The baby died from manual strangulation.
Court documents revealed the chilling callousness of the crime, with Richardson reportedly referring to the victim to a corrections officer using a vile slur.
During their time behind bars, Richardson became a prolific litigant, launching multiple lawsuits that courts ultimately threw out.
One suit filed in April 2025 targeted US President Donald Trump, alleging his rhetoric had encouraged assaults by fellow inmates.
A separate action sought $150,000 from a prison chaplain over a dispute about wearing a hijab, with Richardson claiming to identify as a Muslim woman.
Both cases were dismissed.
Since gaining freedom, Richardson has maintained a social media presence, sharing posts about life outside prison walls, including claims of being in a polyamorous relationship.
The case has reignited fierce debate in the US over the rights of transgender inmates and the adequacy of victim notification systems.
Comments ()