Des Moines woman receives up to 32 years in prison related to child’s death

A Des Moines woman was sentenced up to 32 years in prison for the repeated neglect of her 5-year-old son, actions that contributed to his death. 

Ericka Lynn Rankins, 38, pleaded guilty in September to six counts of child endangerment and three counts of neglect of a dependent person involving her son, Jamal, and other children. 

Jamal Rankins was found unresponsive in the bathtub of the family’s home on Garfield Avenue on Dec. 20, 2020. An autopsy showed that Jamal had extensive injuries to his entire body and suffered physical neglect. 

Evidence included video and audio recordings made by Ericka Rankins showing her torturing the child through physical and psychological abuse. 

Ms. Rankins left Iowa after her son’s death and was arrested in Minnesota in November 2022 with the help of the U.S. Marshalls Service. 

At her sentencing Monday, Ms. Rankins received a term of incarceration of 10 years on each count of neglect of a dependent person, and two years of incarceration for each count of child endangerment, to be served consecutively. The case was investigated by Des Moines Police Detective Abby Giampolo. 

Additionally, Ms. Rankins’ probation on three counts of theft in the third degree was revoked.  She received the original term of six years' incarceration for violating her probation. She was also ordered to have no contact with her four surviving minor children.