Deadbeat drug dealer dad who left his toddler daughter to die in burning car while he fled cops on foot is jailed for 28 years
A drug dealer who left his 19 month-old daughter to die in a burning car while he fled cops following a chase has been jailed for 28 years.
Imhotep O. Norman of Spartanburg was sentenced Tuesday, according to the office of 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette over the April 2019 death of his daughter Xena, who died of thermal burns and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Norman told the court he believed the cops who'd pulled him over would rescue Xena from the flames.
Norman, 28, pleaded guilty of homicide by child abuse, failure to stop for blue lights and sirens, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, trafficking methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute amphetamine, possession of oxycodone and possession of Xanax, according to Solicitor Barry Barnette.
Xena died after Norman was spotted speeding by cops, who attempted to pull him over. A chase ensued, with flames and sparks filmed flying out of the car by a police dashcam.
Imhotep Norman (left), 26, was charged with homicide by child abuse after the body of his one-year-old daughter, Xena Norman (right), was found in his burning car after he fled South Carolina police on Friday
The entire car chase, flames and all, was released in a shocking dashcam video, pictured, taken by one of the pursuing officer's cameras
It is unclear what triggered the blaze, but Norman kept driving instead of stopping to seek help - and then abandoned Xena to perish in the flames in order to save himself
Flames could be seen billowing from the car as it pulled over, although Norman claimed he didn't realize the vehicle was on fire when he fled it
Pictured: Imhotep Norma's 19-month-old daughter, Xena Norman, who died as a result of her father fleeing the police
It is unclear what triggered the blaze, but Norman kept driving instead of stopping to seek help - and then abandoned Xena to perish in the flames after finally doing so, in order to save himself.
The chase saw Norman drive over the median of Highway 14 and onto Interstate 85, where troopers forced him into the right lane.
Authorities said a bag was thrown and later recovered from the moving car as the pursuit was coming to a close. The bag tested positive for weed.
After coming to a stop, Norman jumped from the burning vehicle and as he ran away, a trooper saw him toss a backpack that held illegal drugs, the solicitor's office said.
Firefighters found his daughter's body in the back seat of the car after extinguishing the fire.
Xena Norman died from burns and acute carbon monoxide poisoning, the office said.
The entire car chase, flames and all, was released in a shocking dashcam video taken by one of the pursuing officer's cameras by the Spartanburg Herald Journal.
'I just know that the car wasn’t on fire when I got out the car. I would have stayed in that car with my daughter,' Norman told a judge during a 2019 bond hearing
Once Norman finally ended the car chase, he then ran from the burning vehicle and fled into the woods
Firefighters found his daughter's body in the back seat of the car after extinguishing the fire, with Xena dying from burns and acute carbon monoxide poisoning
The State Highway Patrol claim troopers tried to stop Norman for speeding down Interstate 85 on Friday. Police said the suspect's car burst into flames and he fled on foot while it rolled to a stop. Investigators then found Xena's body on the back seat of the car (pictured)
The toddler's father, who was arrested hours after fleeing into the woods, told investigators he thought the pursuing officers would rescue her.
Norman had appeared before a Spartanburg County judge back on April 13, 2019, just a day after his daughter Xena was killed.
His bond was denied during that 2019 court appearance.
According to Fox Carolina, Norman told the judge: 'I just know that the car wasn’t on fire when I got out the car. I would have stayed in that car with my daughter.'
'I would have never got out the car while the car was on fire. I seen sparks coming from under the tires when I tried to stop and I couldn’t stop at that point. I don’t know why what happened to the car were I couldn’t stop.'
Norman (right in April 2019) was held at the Spartanburg County Detention Center. He appeared before a Spartanburg County judge on Saturday, where his bond was denied
Norman (pictured in April 2019) will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before he's eligible for release, the solicitor's office said
During the April 2019 bond hearing, Norman's mother (pictured) spoke on his behalf. 'He loved her so much,' she said through tears
During the bond hearing, Norman's mother spoke on his behalf.
'He loved her so much,' his mother said through tears.
Following the little girl's death, her mother, Thaisha Young, started a GoFundMe page back in April 2019 seeking donations for funeral expenses.
The online fundraiser raised $5,245 raised of a $8,000 goal.
'I am going through a rough time, I have lost the love of my life MY BABY, MY HEART, MY FIRST CHILD AND ONLY,' Young wrote in the GoFundMe's description section.
'This situation I am facing has affected my ENTIRE LIFE!' Young wrote on the account.
Norman will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before he's eligible for release, the solicitor's office said.
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