Man sentenced to life in prison for severely beating, killing toddler

Published on February 19, 2025

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A man will spend the rest of his natural life in prison after being convicted of murdering a toddler who was under his care in 2021.

After a three-week long trial, a Weld County jury convicted 29-year-old Andy Carter Tuesday of murdering then 18-month-old Emorie Goodro at a Greeley residence on July 2, 2021. 

Carter, who was dating the victim’s mother at the time of the murder, was babysitting Emorie when he severely beat her.

After she was taken to Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley, she was flown to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora where she later died from her injuries.

According to medical experts, Emorie died of blunt force trauma to her head and brain.

“There’s an emptiness inside of me that will haunt me for the rest of my life,” the victim’s mother said Wednesday during the sentencing hearing. “I have no doubt that my girl would have changed the world.”

During the sentencing hearing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Arynn Clark said she wanted to focus on who Emorie was, instead of focusing on the horrific events that took Emorie’s life.

“We’ve gotten to know this precious little girl through videos and stories throughout this case,” CDDA Arynn Clark told the judge. “She was cherished. She was happy and healthy and was a delight to be around. It’s impossible to quantify the pain that this family has endured. It’s also impossible to quantify the happiness Emorie brought to people. This family now has a life sentence of their own as they move forward and have to live without this absolutely precious and perfect little girl.”

Weld County District Court Judge Timothy Kerns sentenced the defendant Wednesday to life in the Colorado Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole.

In addition to CDDA Arynn Clark, Deputy District Attorney Daniel Skelton also prosecuted this case.