Dad sentenced to life in prison for murder of 3-year-old daughter (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

This is one strange story. Why did Grandma need "help" in commiting suicide? Why did dad JOHAN VANNIEKERK kill his 3-year-old daughter at a hotel? Did this involve custody or visitation? Where was this little girl's mother? Looks like a little research is in order....

Hat tip to Annie.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100924/NEWS06/100924015/1322/Man-sentenced-in-deaths-of-mother-daughter#ixzz10T8eaqbW

Man sentenced in deaths of mother, daughter
ASSOCIATED PRESS

An Indiana man who killed his 3-year-old daughter and helped his mother die in a southern Michigan hotel last year has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Johan Vanniekerk was sentenced Thursday.

The 42-year-old from Fort Wayne, Ind., pleaded guilty in August to murdering his daughter, Laura, and helping his mother, Brenda, commit suicide.

Their bodies were found in a Marshall hotel room with a mixture of prescription drugs in their systems.

Prosecutors tell the Battle Creek Enquirer Vanniekerk was driving through the city with his mother and daughter when he stopped at the hotel.

Vanniekerk has testified he and his mother crushed prescription drugs and put them in a cup with some liquid for Laura to drink. Then Brenda Vanniekerk drank it, too.

Read more: Man sentenced in deaths of mother, daughter freep.com Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20100924/NEWS06/100924015/1322/Man-sentenced-in-deaths-of-mother-daughter#ixzz10TR08ArS