Bartow Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Florida State Prison
Office of The State Attorney 10th Judicial Circuit:
Jacob Kubai, 23, was sentenced to 30 years in Florida State Prison for aggravated manslaughter of a child.
On February 23rd, 2024, the four-month-old victim arrived at Bartow Regional Medical Center with no brain activity and multiple physical injuries. She was transferred to Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, where she was declared deceased. Prior to arriving at the hospital, Kubai, the victim’s father, told law enforcement the baby was fine.
Kubai said he and the victim had to pick up something from Wal-Mart and returned home. Kubai claimed he fed the baby and laid her down on her stomach. When Kubai went to check on the baby again, she was not breathing.
Security video shows Kubai at a self-checkout register without the victim. Kubai is the primary caregiver to the victim, as the mother works two jobs. The victim had 10 rib fractures, multiple blunt force trauma strikes to the front of her head, and a swollen and hemorrhaged spine. An acute skull fracture was on the back of the victim’s head, which caused the victim to go unresponsive.
This injury would have been caused by the caregiver at that time. Kubai pled on January 31st and was sentenced by Circuit Judge Jalal Harb to 30 years FSP on April 16th.
State Attorney Brian Haas thanks Assistant State Attorney Seth Solomon and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case.
