Given that ruling, Santonia Small’s conviction and life sentence for second-degree murder in the death of her six-year-old child has been altered to negligent homicide, five years. With credit for time served since her August 2010 conviction, she was freed Tuesday.
Small, 37, left her daughter and son, then 7, alone in their second-floor apartment in January 2008 to go out with friends. The building caught fire and the daughter died.

