Who Is 'Baby Grace'? [Archive] - Crime Library Message Boards

odette

11-04-2007, 06:27 AM

Support Overwhelming for 'Baby Grace' Case

Sketches Released of 'Baby Grace'

myfoxhouston.com - Friday, 02 Nov 2007

Galveston County Sheriff's Office has received many phone calls with information about the case of the young girl whose body was found in a container near West Galveston Bay. On several occasions, all the incoming lines to the communication center have been occupied with calls. ....

Excerpt: A forensic artist from Houston Police Department created the sketches of the girl, who was named "Baby Grace" by Galveston officials investigating the case.

A forensic dentist has narrowed Baby Grace’s age range to 2-3 years.

Galveston authorities have been asking for the public's help in identifying the girl and the media's help in spreading the request nationwide.

A fisherman on one of the islands along the Intracoastal Waterway called police after finding the blue plastic storage box containing the girl's body washed up on the shore on Monday night.

The girl is described as having blonde hair reaching to the middle of her back. She was 32-34 inches tall and weighed 25-30 pounds. She was dressed in a matching pink pullover top and broom skirt. She wore size 8 1/2 white tennis shoes, with Velcro closures, purple accents and little lights built into them.

Authorities say the girl's body could have come from anywhere and they have called in the FBI for help.

A preliminary autopsy completed Tuesday by the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office found that the girl had at least one skull fracture.

Galveston County chief medical examiner Dr. Stephen Pustilnik said the girl appeared to have been dead for at least two weeks and the body was in a state of extensive decomposition. The exact time and cause of death had not been determined.

Major Ray Tuttoilmondo asked that anyone with information about the child contact the sheriff's office at 409-766-2222 or toll free at 866-248-8477.

http://i2.tinypic.com/5zfbskm.gif
continued (http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4819818&version=10&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1)

http://i3.tinypic.com/43qj0q0.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/6hfd2ya.jpg

The composite sketch depicts an unidentified young girl whose body was found in a container in west Galveston Bay.

odette

11-04-2007, 06:30 AM

Remains of Young Girl Found in Box on Island in West Galveston Bay

myfoxhouston.com - 30 Oct 2007

A fisherman on a small island in West Galveston Bay found a container Monday night with the remains of a young girl and the Galveston County Sheriff's Office is investigating it as a homicide.

Investigators have determined the remains are those of a white female 3 to 5 years old, 32-to-34 inches tall, 25-to-30 pounds with long blond hair to the middle of her back. She was wearing a pull-over pink top with 3/4 length sleeves, a matching skirt which is a Cherokee brand name and white tennis shoes with velcro straps and small LED lights in the heels. .....

http://i6.tinypic.com/5xxfg3a.jpg

continued (http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4781308&version=5&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1)

odette

11-04-2007, 06:34 AM

http://i11.tinypic.com/4or6q79.jpg
Photo of shoes identical to those worn by decedent.

http://i4.tinypic.com/4mbp0dj.jpg
Image from Sterilite website of container in which decedent was found.

myfoxhouston (http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4819818&version=10&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1)

odette

11-04-2007, 06:37 AM

New sketches put a face on Baby Grace

chron.com - ANNE MARIE KILDAY and KEVIN MORAN - Nov. 2, 2007

For now, they are calling her Baby Grace.

She had wavy, blond hair that fell to the middle of her back.

She wore a pink or red cropped shirt and a matching skirt. On her feet were white sneakers with pink flower decorations that lighted up and flashed when she walked.

Sometime before someone stuffed the unidentified 2- to 5-year-old child into a storage box several weeks ago, her skull was fractured, authorities said. — continued

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5266950.html

odette

11-04-2007, 06:38 AM

Baby Grace investigators get hundreds of tips

chron.com - ANITA HASSAN - Nov. 3, 2007

Hundreds of tipsters from around the country have called Galveston authorities with possible leads to identify Baby Grace after sketches were released Friday of the child whose body was stuffed into a storage bin and found floating in Galveston Bay.

"We're sorting through a lot of leads," said Major Ray Tuttoilmondo with the Galveston County Sheriff's Office. "Nothing has hit a home run yet." — continued

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5271222.html

odette

11-04-2007, 06:40 AM

FBI ASSISTING GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF IN “BABY GRACE” INVESTIGATION

houston.fbi.gov - November 1, 2007

On 10/29/2007, a Galveston, Texas, fisherman reported finding a container which he believed contained human remains. Galveston County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded, and discovered that the Sterilite brand container contained the remains of a 3 to 5 year old female child.

The container was found on an uninhabited island in a remote area of West Bay, several miles west-southwest of the Galveston causeway. It is accessible only by boat.

The child, named “Baby Grace” by Sheriff’s Office personnel, was 32 to 34 inches tall, weighed 25 to 30 pounds, and was small framed. She had blonde hair that reached to the middle of her back. She was wearing a pink top and pink “broom”style skirt, both items of the Cherokee brand sold at Target stores. Her tennis shoes were white with purple accents and lights in the heel, in children’s size 8 ½.

The Galveston County Medical Examiner has discovered multiple skull fractures in its preliminary examination.

Missing persons cases are being searched in order to locate potential matches, but no potential matches have been made. The Galveston County Medical Examiner stated, “Someone is missing this child. A grandparent, a playmate, an aunt or an uncle who are not aware of this child’s tragic end.”

The FBI will be assisting in the investigation by handling all leads that are outside of Galveston County. A case has been opened which will facilitate the thorough investigation of leads in other areas of Texas and throughout the United States.

http://houston.fbi.gov/pressrel/2007/ho11012007.htm

odette

11-04-2007, 06:42 AM

Composite sketches released of girl stuffed in box

cnn.com - November 2, 2007

# Story Highlights
# NEW: Sketches show a girl with blond hair, wearing a pink shirt and skirt
# NEW: Child was between 2 and 3 years old, forensic dentist says
# Fisherman discovered plastic box containing girl's body on Monday
# Box washed ashore on uninhabited island near Galveston, Texas

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/02/body.found/index.html

odette

11-04-2007, 06:44 AM

'Baby Grace' Sketch Released

Police Seeking Public Help in ID-ing Girl Found Dead by Fisherman Monday Night

abcnews.go.com - DAVID SCHOETZ - Nov. 2, 2007

Authorities in Texas released a composite sketch of an unidentified child whose dead body was stuffed into a locked plastic container and found by a fisherman Monday night. — continued X 2 pages

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3807522&page=1

odette

11-04-2007, 06:46 AM

Prayer Vigil To Be Held For Baby Grace

Search For Identity Goes Worldwide

click2houston.com - November 3, 2007

GALVESTON -- A prayer vigil will be held Sunday afternoon for an unidentified girl nicknamed Baby Grace whose body was discovered in a box near Galveston, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Composite sketches were released Friday in an effort to find out her identity.

A fisherman found her body inside a plastic container near the Galveston Causeway Monday.

The case is receiving international attention.

Tim Miller, with Texas EquuSearch, appeared on MSNBC Friday morning to appeal to anyone who might be able to identify the child.

"Someone that might be from New York or someone that might be from Wisconsin may have seen something, and they're not going to know anything about this case unless we get it out," said Sgt. Mike Barry with the Galveston County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said they have received tips, especially from teachers who have noticed an absent student. However, all of those children have been located. — continued

http://www.click2houston.com/news/14496116/detail.html

odette

11-04-2007, 12:30 PM

GALVESTON CRIME STOPPERS

CRIME OF THE WEEK

Baby Grace

http://www.crimestoppersgalveston.com/

Bluefox

11-04-2007, 06:43 PM

One2Snoop

11-05-2007, 01:33 PM

When i first saw the description, i thought of Madeleine...............2-3 would be too young...........however i hope baby Grace will soon have her own name. So sad to see a little baby thrown away like this.

I had the same thought! In some of the articles they said upwards to age 5. She's a long ways from Portugal if it is her. I hope they find out who the poor little angel is. :rose:

odette

11-05-2007, 04:04 PM

Web Site Created To Help Find Baby Grace's Identity

click2houston.com - November 5, 2007

GALVESTON, Texas -- A Web site has been set up to try to find Baby Grace's true identity, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

The site, baby-grace.org (http://www.baby-grace.org/), has updated information from the Galveston County Sheriff's Department and includes flyers that can be downloaded. — continued

http://www.click2houston.com/news/14514888/detail.html

odette

11-05-2007, 06:19 PM

Baby Grace case focuses on two dozen missing

galvestondailynews.com - Sara McDonald - November 5, 2007

GALVESTON — Baby Grace isn’t the only little girl with long, blond hair separated from her family, home and life. — continued

Excerpt: The cases are scattered across the country, he said. Detectives are also looking into the potential that the case could be international, even though the child was found wearing Target-brand clothing only sold in the United States.

Investigators haven’t formally ruled out the possibility that Baby Grace is Madeline McCann, the 4-year-old British girl who went missing from her parent’s Portuguese hotel room in May, Tuttoilmondo said.

But he said despite an Internet effort to link the two, officers are fairly confident the child wasn’t McCann. Sheriff’s office detectives are collaborating with officials in Great Britain and Portugal to see if dental records and DNA tests can confirm the two cases are separate.

“She’s not off the radar yet,” Tuttoilmondo said.
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=4f0d0449278ad898

odette

11-05-2007, 06:29 PM

Mystery of girl's body washed ashore in US touches on Madeleine McCann case

timesonline.co.uk - David Brown - November 5, 2007

Police have examined the body of a young girl washed ashore in the United States for links to Madeleine McCann after evidence that it could have been swept across from Europe. — continued

Excerpt: A post-mortem examination found that Baby Grace had been dead for at least two weeks and sustained a skull fracture. She was white, between 2 and 3 years old with long blonde or light brown wavy hair, and was wearing a pink skirt and shirt and white light-up tennis shoes.

Galveston County Sheriff’s Department received several tip offs that the description matched Madeleine. The search for Madeleine has received enormous coverage in the United States and the First Lady, Laura Bush, has made a personal appeal. But Major Ray Tuttoilmondo, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department, said that it had concluded that the body was not linked to Madeleine

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2810316.ece

Rheanna

11-08-2007, 04:43 PM

charmaine

11-10-2007, 04:01 AM

WOW, that's just recent too... Poor kid hope someone claims her. What parent wouldn't report their child missing or not notice their child missing?? Isn't the school missing a kid?? Someone has to know something. The composite makes her much older than 2 or 3 years old I think.:(

RIP Baby Grace :rose:

What parent wouldn't report their child missing?...A parent who murdered their child. Just another poor defenceless soul thrown away as if she meant nothing. :flamemad:

RaVeN71806

11-13-2007, 11:17 AM

someone has to know who this little girl is...this so sad how could you not report a child missing...parent, teacher, principals, anybody...she has to be somebody's..:rose:

Seashell

11-14-2007, 08:39 AM

[BI cant even fathom how no one misses this child?! poor baby bless her ..
words of comfort right now go to this poor lost soul, Baby Grace we do care and love you here on this corner[/B] :rose:

MamaMari

11-21-2007, 01:10 PM

This just came out yesterday.
A little girl fitting Baby Grace's description is missing from Spring, TX. Her mother was from Mentor, Ohio. Left with the little girl in May and claims someone from Ohio CPS threw her down and took the child in July. The baby hasn't been seen since. The father, from Mentor, Ohio and his family claim she left him for a man she met on the internet and they thought Riley Ann (the little girl) was with her. Upon hearing about Baby Grace the grandmother contacted authorities because the drawing fit the description of the little girl. The mother is now saying she was taken by CPS.
Ohio CPS says they never did.

Story:
http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4994909&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

http://www.abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id=5777245

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3891568&page=1

Here is the video:

http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=4994723&version=1&locale=EN-US

Pictures of Riley Ann Sawyers:
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/MarisSiggieAlbum/Lost%20and%20Missing%20Children/gracegirl.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/MarisSiggieAlbum/Lost%20and%20Missing%20Children/grace2.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/MarisSiggieAlbum/Lost%20and%20Missing%20Children/gracemissinggirl.jpg

SimplySue

11-26-2007, 12:01 AM

Two arrested in ‘Baby Grace’ case
Officials believe Texas girl who washed ashore in bin is couple’s daughter

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21966999/

Bluefox

11-26-2007, 07:11 AM

How could she take her baby and trust her to a complete stranger she met on the internet. The stupidity and selfish indulgence of some women astounds me.

hissister

11-26-2007, 07:44 AM

I hadn't realized that there was a possible identity to Baby Grace, and possible suspects until I read an MSN news story about it a little while ago. I couldn't believe what I was reading; that the mother didn't even report her little girl missing, or anything else that she says happened.
This is just a horrible thing.
And it's also horrible that there are so many missing little girls that police were investigating trying to find out who this little girl was. Those parents that had to worry if the body found was their little girl.
Looking at the picture of Riley Ann, she does bear a striking resemblance to Madelein McCann to me.

MamaMari

11-26-2007, 10:57 AM

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/1752/20071121163123copybw9.jpg

http://19actionnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=7406495

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3912395&page=1

http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=5036592&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

http://www.19actionnews.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?LaunchPageAdTag=News&ClipID1=1959509&h1=Police%20Arrest%20Couple%20For%20%22Baby%20Grac e%22%20Murder%2C%20Identify%20The%20Body&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=75067&ClipID2=1959495&h2=Mentor%20Family%20Reacts%20To%20%22Baby%20Grace %22%20Identification&vt2=v&at2=News&d2=100000&ClipID3=1959108&h3=Mentor%20Mom%20Arrested%20In%20Texas%20For%20%2 7Baby%20Grace%27%20Murder&vt3=v&at3=News&d3=79967&activePane=playlist&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.19actionnews.com/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D7406495&rnd=28140801

News Conference to be at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard.
http://www.wkyc.com/

LatrobeGirl

11-26-2007, 01:14 PM

MamaMari

11-27-2007, 02:17 AM

Tangerine

11-27-2007, 02:43 AM

i can not express how this story is breaking my heart. i have a 3 year old, blonde-headed daughter and her name is riley, too. i just cannot comes to terms with this story yet.

Maven

11-27-2007, 09:56 AM

All I could do was cry when I saw the story and the horrible confession by the "mother" of that beautiful baby. I cannot believe that human beings can do something like that to an innocent child. I don't think there is any type onf justice that can be exacted for such a heinous crime.

Maven

11-27-2007, 09:57 AM

I read that Riley's dad (lives in Ohio) is devastated. Wonder why he didn't know that she was missing?

Riley's 19-yr old mother is pregnant and in jail. I hope authorities can give this baby half a chance....

For Riley Ann:rose:

For the adults who were supposed to care for Riley and instead threw her away like yesterday's trash:flamemad:
you know, i was surprised that the biological father and the grandmother didn't do more digging when the mother came up with the bizarre lie about a social worker coming and knocking her down and taking Riley off to OH. I mean come on, talk about red flags!

LatrobeGirl

11-27-2007, 10:05 AM

My heart goes out to Riley Ann's dad and grandparents who are suffering right now from the loss of this angel from their lives....

Reading Kim Trenor's confession is chilling and heartbreaking. I do not recommend it at all....this poor baby suffered so much before she died....and who knows how many times she was treated so brutally before the fatal day....I hope Kim and Royce rot in hell:flamemad:

I'm a Christian, and have always struggled with not allowing myself to feel hatred for anyone, no matter how awful they are, but I read a passage in Psalm recently that made me feel better about having hatred in my heart for anyone....Psalm 139:19-22 tells me that I can hate them (the wicked) with a "perfect hatred". I realize I cannot use this an an excuse for just anything, but in cases of child abuse, torture, murder, and rape.....I'm glad to finally see that God understands the need to hate and provides an outlet for it!

:rose: Riley Ann, rest in peace and safety, sweet baby

RaVeN71806

11-27-2007, 01:13 PM

Riley Ann:rose:
No words can describe how I feel right now.
This poor baby endured much torture in her last hours on this earth.:flamemad:

http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=5041179&version=6&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Affadavit (warning graphic details):
http://www.khou.com/images/0711/BabyGracepc1_071126.pdf

I can't believe this they stayed home to beat and kill her the rotten s.o.b's I hope they rot I hope someone beats the **** out them..I'm very happy that they found the identity of baby grace and she will layed in rest at peace..my heart and prayers go out to her daddy and grandmother..for baby riley :rose:

Marcia3

11-27-2007, 02:30 PM

Obviously this story is so incredibly sad and heartbreaking, but I am feeling so confused as well. Why would anyone kill a child? Why on earth would you torture and kill a child?

I certainly don't condone abuse of any kind, but when I hear or read that a mom or dad has lost control of their impulses when their baby has been fussy and crying for hours, I can at least understand on some level why they snap (understanding, of course, that there are some alternatives to snapping, like walking away, finding someone to babysit for a while, etc). But this case doesn't even sound like that; the mother and "stepfather" appear to have simply taken leave of whatever sense God gave them and killed this poor child for the sheer delight of it.

Makes me sick to my stomach. I actually feel like I may get ill. I know I'm not alone in this reaction...I am simply stunned, and completely confused.

KTScarlettOkity

11-27-2007, 03:08 PM

I know I'm not alone in this reaction...I am simply stunned, and completely confused.

You're not alone at all. This is a horrific, confusing and stunning case.

I can at least understand on some level why they snap (understanding, of course, that there are some alternatives to snapping, like walking away, finding someone to babysit for a while, etc)

I wanted to share a personal story that flashed into my mind when I read this. I'm a cat person, always have been. I love dogs, but my home has always just had cats. About 6-7 years ago a dog was abandoned on my property and I decided to try to give her a home. She really was a sweet soul. I worked on cage training her and paid 2 very trusted neighborhood youths to walk her early afternoon and play with her in the yard for about an hour a day while I was at work. Problem was this, she was destructo doggie to the Nth degree. The boys often didn't get her cage closed properly and when loose in the house for even 10 minutes, something would get demolished. Night after night this happened. One evening I can home from work and it literally looked like the great room had been hit by a tornado. The worst part is that she destroyed a doll that had been my mother's as a child (my mother passed when I was 9 and I have very few mementos of hers) which was very important to me. I literally felt my anger hit a point where I did not trust myself. Crying with rage, I called a neighbor and begged her to come help me because I didn't trust myself with the dog. Thankfully she came over right away, tied the dog outside and helped me clean up.

I'm happy to report that I was able to find a new home for the dog that had a stay at home mom who could keep an eye on the dog and spend the time to train her properly. Because in hindsight I know THAT'S what the pup needed to thrive. And I....am a cat person. :)

My point in all this, is that this was a dog. I had the sense to call someone when I felt myself snap and feared that I might harm the dog. So while I understand that feeling of snapping, I don't see how one could hurt a precious baby and not call for help....or even just walk away.

{{Marcia}} hugs to you! I totally understand how sickening it is to hear of how this little one's life was ended so cruelly.

Marcia3

11-27-2007, 03:17 PM

That is a great example of what you do when your anger reaches that point. We all have an instinctive response to that kind of rage and impulse control. You absolutely did the right thing, and most parents (thank God) do the right thing all of the time. We don't lash out at our children or pets or anyone else. What I'm finding difficult to get with this poor baby is that they didn't seem to have rage as much as just abuse for the sake of the thrill of it.

Thanks for your hug, right back at ya!

For all innocent children who suffer at the hands of the cruel: :rose:

Bluefox

11-27-2007, 04:18 PM

The pics of Riley show her as a normal 2-3 yr old, smiling and happy. I believe it to be a pic taken before her mother went to live with a complete stranger. The truth of this one is probably of the old story, where some men just will not tolerate or bring up another man's child. He probably influenced the mother to join in with his cruelty till it led to her death. As you can see from the statements, it seems to be him making all the suggestions, running the show, and the mother blindly follows. Satan moves in many forms, and he has disciples too.

I hope these two truly never see the light of day every again.

Marcia3

11-27-2007, 07:04 PM

SimplySue

11-27-2007, 08:54 PM

Since they killed her in Texas, I think they're probably looking at the death penalty. Unless they are offered a deal and they take it to save the taxpayers the cost of a trial.

I think you are probably right, Texas is a state that not only has the death penalty but uses it. I know alot of people are against it, but I for one think it is there for cases like this one.

When I logged on this morning and started reading some of the newspapers online, I had to shut the computer down. I had read last night there had been an arrest but there were no details like there is today. Simply unimaginable.

I'm in the same sort of mindset as Bluefox, how in the hell can a mother move across the country with her baby, to live with some nut case that she plays violent bloodlust video games with online?

For as long as I live I will never understand the women that allow their men to abuse, torture, rape and kill their kids. I just cannot wrap my head around that at all.

I hope they get the death penalty because they deserve it! In Texas there isn't that longgggggggggg wait on death row either. :no:

Although my heart and prayers do go out to Riley's father and family in Ohio, I don't understand why they didn't find out the truth of who *took* Riley, or called the police, or SOMETHING. If my child simply vanished like Riley did, there isn't a person big enough to stop me from trying to find her.

For Riley and all the other little ones being abused around the world as I type this. :rose:

MamaMari

11-28-2007, 12:12 AM

Riley's beautiful little face has been with me for the past week, since we heard about her.
I find myself seeing things in my three year old son, that breaks my heart in trying to understand why someone would want to hurt a baby. A child. Their own flesh and blood.
They are full of wonder, and love and all they want is to be cherished and cared for and loved.
Riley should have been getting ready for Christmas. My youngest son is just beginning to understand Christmas. He is excited. His eyes glow when we light up our tree. When he sees Santa Claus' picture. Riley should have been given this right. She should have been left to live and play and laugh and someone should have been there to revel in Riley's beautiful little laugh and the wonder in her eyes.
She should have been given all of this. But she was not. The very person who nurtured her in her womb, brought her into this world, and should have been there to help her thrive and learn and grow- took her life.

Let me tell you something, I can not go to sleep well at night because my 3 year old son is having a hard time adjusting to our new home. He doesn't sleep well. Hence, neither do I. He is up and down at all hours of the day and night, because of our recent move to our new house. I am sick and can not sleep. But I would NEVER EVER in all my life think of BEATING HIM because he is a toddler, a child. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND this. I am here to comfort him and help him adjust, and even though I myself have other issues to deal with healthwise and life wise, I put MYSELF ASIDE and I care and nurture and love for my children. My day to day life is busy and full of ups and downs and not getting sufficient amounts of sleep, helping with violin lessons, soccer, baseball, helping with homework, cooking, cleaning, keeping my home safe for them. How in the WORLD can someone do this to their beautiful flesh and blood?

This one has hit me very hard and in the recent weeks, with Rowan and Harmony I didn't think it would get any worse. And not only that, but Riley was from my area. Mentor is about 10 minutes from me. That doesn't make any of this easier.

None of us will ever, EVER be able to understand what evil lies within a person, to do such shocking, unspeakable things. All we can do is learn from this and let ourselves and our children be aware that evil does exist, just as good exists in people.

:rose: a million roses for you Riley.

Grannynag58

11-28-2007, 02:20 AM

And to think, he gave that poor girl some children's pain medicine while abusing her to death.

I just don't understand this world So much pain for a little soul to bear.

butterflys1

11-28-2007, 05:20 AM

as a mom, i with you all not understanding why? As a criminal justice student and a ex-wife of a paramedic who has seen more than I ever wanted too know I try too understand the reason behind it all, but can not. Thats why I plan on after school working with the victims not the criminals. I love my kids, they are my pride and joy... It makes me sick too see someone who has not had a chance too see alot of things taken from this world so soon. I look forward too seeing my kids getting on/off the bus and watching them getting ready for Christmas and other things. I could never abuse or kill my children. Take te TV away when they are in trouble I can see but hurting them never.

Aslan

11-28-2007, 08:50 AM

I had almost forgotten what it was like to be speechless.

:flamemad:

:rose: Enjoy sitting in your true Father's lap, sweet little one.

Seashell

11-28-2007, 10:53 AM

I can't believe this they stayed home to beat and kill her the rotten s.o.b's I hope they rot I hope someone beats the **** out them..I'm very happy that they found the identity of baby grace and she will layed in rest at peace..my heart and prayers go out to her daddy and grandmother..for baby riley :rose:

I am speechless and DISGUSTED :flamemad: at those 2 :flamemad:
Children seem to be the bait of violent s.o.b parents and someone out there needs to change the laws and bring back the death penalty back in cases such as these :flamemad:

my heartfelt condolences for the babys father and grandparents :rose: I pray you find peace little Angel baby Riley :rose:

MamaMari

11-28-2007, 11:19 PM

Funeral Fund for Baby Grace:

A funeral fund has been set up for Riley Ann Sawyers to help pay for funeral expenses. You can donate money at any
FirstMerit branch location.

The Family of Riley Ann Sawyers has entrusted the arrangements for her funeral to Brunner Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060.

The funeral service is pending her transfer to Ohio. The District Attorney in Texas estimates two to three weeks. In the meantime, Brunner Funeral Homes & Cremation Service has set up a Riley Ann Sawyers memorial at their Tree of Remembrance on the front lawn at the funeral home in Mentor. All are invited to honor Riley at this site .

In addition, Riley will be remembered at the Brunner Funeral Homes Annual Tree of Remembrance Service this Sunday Dec 2, at 1 p.m. on the lawn at 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH.

"We are to honored to serve the family of Riley Ann Sawyers. So many lives have been affected by the death of Riley. If we can help just one person get through this very difficult time than we have served our purpose," said Nancy Brunner Sanden.

Click here for more:
http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5064061&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.1.1

video of fundraisers and fund for Riley:
http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=5068823&version=1&locale=EN-US[/QUOTE]

MamaMari

11-28-2007, 11:25 PM

The fundraiser in memory of Riley will be held on:

December 15th

6-9 p.m.

Kirtlander Party Center

9270 Chillicothe Road

Kirtland, Ohio

Tickets are $15

Tickets purchased through Mentor Way Care

Call #440-255-9309

Money from the fundraiser will help the Sawyers family with expenses for bringing Riley's body back from Texas, her funeral and travel expenses the family may incur while attending the criminal proceedings.

A fund has also been set up through First Merit Bank for donations to be mailed.

Memorial Fund for Riley Ann Sawyers

First Merit Bank

Attn: Ellen Forbus

7800 Reynolds Road

Mentor, Ohio 44060

link:http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=78858&provider=gnews

Aslan

11-29-2007, 01:50 AM

Marcia3

11-29-2007, 05:13 AM

LatrobeGirl

11-29-2007, 08:54 AM

Copied and pasted from FoxNews.com:

SIZE="5"]Lawyer: Stepdad Beat to Death 'Baby Grace' for Not Saying 'Please,' 'Yes, Sir'[/SIZE]
Thursday, November 29, 2007

HOUSTON — The stepfather of a 2-year-old girl lost control and beat her to death because she wouldn't say "please" and "yes sir," an attorney for the girl's mother said Wednesday.

A body found last month in Galveston Bay is believed to be that of the little girl, Riley Ann Sawyers, though DNA tests are pending. Her mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, and stepfather, Royce Clyde Zeigler II, were arrested Saturday.

According to court documents, Trenor, 19, told police she and her husband killed the girl in July and hid her body in a shed before dumping it in the bay.

Trenor's attorney, Tommy Stickler Jr., said Zeigler, 24, was overwhelmed by his sudden fatherhood and didn't know what behavior to expect from a toddler. Trenor moved with her daughter from Mentor, Ohio, to Texas in June to be with Zeigler, whom she met online.

Zeigler wanted his wife to spank Riley with a belt when she failed to say things like "please" and "yes sir" or "no sir," Stickler said Wednesday. Zeigler didn't believe Trenor was doing it, however, because the 2-year-old's behavior wasn't changing.

The fatal beating happened after Zeigler stayed home from work to make sure his wife was following his discipline plan, Stickler said.

In her statement to Galveston authorities, Trenor said the girl was beaten with leather belts, had her head held underwater in a bathtub and then was thrown across a room, her head slamming into a tile floor.

Although the affidavit said the couple abused Riley over a four- to six-hour period, Stickler said it wasn't a continuous event. Instead, Zeigler grew increasingly enraged as he spanked Riley and she kept forgetting to do things the way he wanted.

"There was never an intention to beat Riley to death," he said.

At one point, Trenor wanted to call an ambulance but Zeigler wouldn't let her, saying they would both be arrested if officials saw her injuries, Stickler said. Instead, Riley was given some over-the-counter pain medication.

When Riley later stopped breathing, Zeigler performed CPR on her tiny body, Stickler said.

Neal Davis III, Zeigler's attorney, said Trenor's story isn't believable.

"She is placing all the blame on Royce, but I think that once the facts come to light, once the timeline's established and the evidence is combed through ... I think her credibility is gonna become a big issue," Davis said.

Trenor and Ziegler were arrested after investigators spent weeks trying to identify the girl they dubbed "Baby Grace," whose body was found in a plastic box floating in Galveston Bay. Riley's paternal grandmother in Ohio had called police, thinking a sketch of the dead child might have been the granddaughter she hadn't seen in months.

Trenor and Zeigler remained jailed Wednesday on charges of injury to a child and tampering with evidence. Bail was set at $350,000 each.

Stickler also said Wednesday that Trenor is pregnant.

SICKENING!!!

Seashell

11-29-2007, 09:12 AM

Marcia3

11-29-2007, 09:20 AM

All I can say is, whaaaaat?

That's the reason they're giving for systematically torturing this child and then killing her? Oh wait, they did give her some OTC pain meds and the stepdad tried CPR when she finally died. Gimme the biggest break ever!

And of course the attorney for the scumbag has to jump in and call the "mother" a liar. I put mother in quotation marks because anyone who would allow or participate in that kind of treatment of a child is not a mother!

I don't know which emotion is taking over at this point, the anger or the sadness. This is horrific and I'd better stop now b4 I get myself banned...

LatrobeGirl

11-29-2007, 09:29 AM

Trenor's attorney, Tommy Stickler Jr., said Zeigler, 24, was overwhelmed by his sudden fatherhood...

BULL! He just didn't want to raise another man's child! He wanted to punish her just for being there....and that spineless mother let him, and participated.

I'm so mad right now I can't see straight.....

FRY THEM BOTH!: :flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad:

Marcia3

11-29-2007, 09:38 AM

So if the P*S was overwhelmed at becoming a daddy, why didn't he remove himself from the situation? Take time to learn how to be a daddy, something!

The article also says that he stayed home from work one day to watch the disciplining of Riley because he suspected that Mom wasn't being tough enough. Sounds like a control freak to me. Very often, control freaks are abusive, and we might as well get ready to hear Mom defend herself using the abuse excuse; she was frightened for her own life, blah blah blah.

MamaMari

11-29-2007, 12:46 PM

"A female inmate checking out of the Galveston County Jail Wednesday night confirmed Trenor is in the maternity section of the women’s facility.
She also added – that she “ain’t very well liked by the other ladies – especially the other pregnant moms.” "

Yea. I would think not.

for more click here:
http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou071128_tnt_rileysmomtalks.4a77c2df.html

Marcia3

11-29-2007, 01:12 PM

RaVeN71806

11-29-2007, 03:45 PM

I would love to slam his head into a tile floor 50 million times maybe he'd learn on what the concept of a father is...as for the mother I'd take the belt and beat her how many time that asshole made riley say "yes sir"...there gonna rot...these politics really need to get there **** together and make a new law the make all pointless decisions in our country why make a good decision and save these kids...

MamaMari

11-29-2007, 03:48 PM

And so it begins. Ziegler was an authoritive figure, Trenor wanted to confess or "tell somebody" since it happened. I figured we'd see this kind of defense since it's the one that works best when women are trying to wiggle out of taking the consequences for what they've done.

How in the name of dirt and worms does someone allow their child to be beaten with a belt, have their head held under water, and thrown across the room? Even taking into account the difference in their sizes (Ziegler and Trenor) and understanding that most men have the upper hand physically while in a conflict with a woman, you cannot convince me that Trenor tried to stop this souless monster from killing this child.

And what's with this cry of there was no intent for Riley to be killed? Excuse me? With everything that was done to that poor child, what did these two expect would happen?

Exactly Marcia.
She didn't worry about it when the baby was dead. Or while she was helping him rid of her tiny body in a tote.
What went through that monster's mind? Did she mourn? Did she care? Obviously not. I doubt it was that awful for you, Kim. Why couldn't you tell someone? To cover your own ass? That's just why. Because had you cared for that baby with all a mother's heart should care, you would have NEVER let that man put his hands on her. You would have never put your own hands on her. Or held her under water. Or beat her with belts. Or put her tiny lifeless body into a damned tote and then be discared away like trash.

Everyday I read about this I am more and more angered.

MamaMari

11-29-2007, 03:51 PM

I got this timeline from another board that was put together from info from the Plain Dealer and Lake County court records and Galveston Sheriff's Office.

Riley's short life - cleveland.com
Tuesday, November 27, 2007

March 11, 2005: Riley Sawyers is born in Mentor to Kimberly Trenor and Robert Sawyers.

March 30, 2007: Robert Sawyers is arrested for domestic violence after Trenor calls police and says he grabbed her throat because she parked in his space in the driveway.

April 12: Sawyers is ordered by Lake County Domestic Court to stay away from Trenor.

May 25: Trenor agrees to give Sawyers custody of Riley every Wednesday and every other weekend.

May 29: Sawyers files a claim that Trenor failed to give him Riley. Trenor's father, Randall Trenor, says his daughter and Riley are in Canton and will return in June.

June 1: Kimberly Trenor and Riley move to Texas, where Trenor, 19, moves in with Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, who she met on the Internet.

June 5: Robert Sawyers' mother, Sheryl, the court's go-between, argues with Randall Trenor about Kimberly. Randall tells Mentor police that Kimberly is either in Pennsylvania, Maryland or Virginia.

June 26: A trial is set in Lake County Domestic Relations Court to change custody and give Sawyers more time with his daughter.

July 15: Court summons for Trenor is returned unopened.

Sept. 19: Second court summons returned unopened.

Oct. 29: Body of a young unidentified girl, later named "Baby Grace," is found in plastic bin in Galveston Bay.

Nov. 7: Sheryl Sawyers alerts Texas officials the body might be her grandchild she has not seen since May.

Nov. 20: Robert Sawyers gives DNA sample to be sent to Texas.

Nov. 24: Galveston police arrest Kimberly Trenor and Zeigler and charge them with injuring a child and tampering with evidence.

Nov. 26: Galveston sheriff's officials confirm the body found is that of Riley. DNA tests results are pending, but police say are confident in the identification.

SOURCE: Lake County court records and Galveston Sheriff's Office

SimplySue

11-29-2007, 08:19 PM

Hey look I found my voice.

May I be angry for a second?

Where in the HELL was her father? I don't think it's that much of a stretch to assume that if the story they gave..in JULY! was that she was taken away by child services, he certainly could have..oh I don't know..called? Asked? Given a damn?

Sorry, just have a hard time seeing him as compassionate dad all of a sudden.

What happened to this child was the direct result of her mother and Royce, I'm not saying that it isn't. However, him crying on tv rings really really hollow to me.

Sorry, just had to vent.

I agree with you 100%. Why (if they care soooooo much) didn't the father and his family investigate when they were told by the mother that CPS had removed the child from their custody?

It sounds to me as if he remarried, had another child and kind of swept Riley and that part of his life away to me. I know if someone told me my child was taken I'd be finding out who had her that very day!

It makes me sick that the mother is pregnant again, and pregnant by this animal that she married and ALLOWED to kill her baby girl! You know how they have two seated bicycles? They should have two seated electric chairs, or maybe an electric LOVESEAT, so their asses could fry side by side.

These child killers and baby rapists are what the death penalty is for in my books! I'd happily be a volunteer to pull the switch too. :flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad:

charmaine

11-29-2007, 08:55 PM

I cant even say anything coherent after reading this poor babies abuse and violent death.. :(
I cant even fathom how a mother can stand there and allow this MONSTER do what he did!!?????
the mother is as guilty as hell and should have her unborn baby TAKEN AWAY after birth and adopted into a loving family then she should be sterilized and left to rot in jail along with her abusive monster partner!!
bbl. am too shocked and disgusted to comment further.

ITA Seashell! That is exactly what should happen to this woman, (I can not bring myself to call her a mother) and those others who do this to children. These kinds of vile acts are very hard for me to take as she is so much like my own little blonde angel, and the thought of her or any child being subjected to this kind of terror is too much to take. IMHO.

skybludeb

11-29-2007, 09:57 PM

I think you are probably right, Texas is a state that not only has the death penalty but uses it. I know alot of people are against it, but I for one think it is there for cases like this one.

When I logged on this morning and started reading some of the newspapers online, I had to shut the computer down. I had read last night there had been an arrest but there were no details like there is today. Simply unimaginable.

I'm in the same sort of mindset as Bluefox, how in the hell can a mother move across the country with her baby, to live with some nut case that she plays violent bloodlust video games with online?

For as long as I live I will never understand the women that allow their men to abuse, torture, rape and kill their kids. I just cannot wrap my head around that at all.

I hope they get the death penalty because they deserve it! In Texas there isn't that longgggggggggg wait on death row either. :no:

Although my heart and prayers do go out to Riley's father and family in Ohio, I don't understand why they didn't find out the truth of who *took* Riley, or called the police, or SOMETHING. If my child simply vanished like Riley did, there isn't a person big enough to stop me from trying to find her.

For Riley and all the other little ones being abused around the world as I type this. :rose:
I agree if someone said my granddaughters had just vanished like Riley did I would not just set back and hope I see them again I would be fighting tooth and nail to find them. But do we know that they didnt try? My heart goes out to them for their loss of Riley. I hope they get death.. and I wish they would have to die painfully like Riley not just have a needle in their arm! What kind of mother could do such a thing? She was a beautiful little girl.

Aslan

11-29-2007, 11:39 PM

I agree if someone said my granddaughters had just vanished like Riley did I would not just set back and hope I see them again I would be fighting tooth and nail to find them. But do we know that they didnt try? My heart goes out to them for their loss of Riley. I hope they get death.. and I wish they would have to die painfully like Riley not just have a needle in their arm! What kind of mother could do such a thing? She was a beautiful little girl.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure it was dad's mom who called the police when she saw the sketch on tv of the body found.
Not dad. When he was first asked about it he said that as far as he knew she was taken by child services during the summer.

In her statement to Galveston authorities, Trenor said the girl was beaten with leather belts, had her head held underwater in a bathtub and then was thrown across a room, her head slamming into a tile floor.

Although the affidavit said the couple abused Riley over a four- to six-hour period, Stickler said it wasn't a continuous event. Instead, Zeigler grew increasingly enraged as he spanked Riley and she kept forgetting to do things the way he wanted.

"There was never an intention to beat Riley to death," he said.

I don't have children yet. I do however have a precious little shih-tzu named Sampson who is full of himself. Sometimes i have friends over for dinner. If any single one of them even tried to treat my dog this way, they would at the very least be thrown out. ..and he's a dog.

Anyway, I play an online game (World of Warcraft) and end up meeting numerous people weekly, just by playing. This woman moved to go and live with a man who sweet talked her over the internet. What an idiot.
She sacrificed her own daughter for approval.

I really hope the maximum penalty is sought for both.
I also hope that at some point people realize the effect the internet and sweet talkers have on the gullible. This is a growing trend.

I so wish I were in that house that day. I'm sure i'm not alone.

how in the world can you do tha..

sigh

hissister

11-30-2007, 02:52 AM

Since seeing the first released pictures of little Riley, I can't get her face out of my mind. I just can't imagine how her mother could have allowed this man to even start abusing her daughter. And I can't imagine how she could allow it to continue. Little Riley wasn't a defiant, rebellious child; she was a toddler. A toddler who could not understand how her life had changed (that is if there had not been any abuse in her life before that). A toddler who was so confused; probably so afraid that nothing she could do was right anymore; and that a beating could be coming at any moment.
I'm hurting badly inside for this little girl. I'm angry that a "mother" could let her child be treated this way.

MamaMari

11-30-2007, 09:12 AM

I too, like many of you wondered why this father had waited so long to find his daughter.

I watched Larry King last night, Sawyerses were on there. King asked their lawyer how long they had her as their lawyer. She responded that back in June Robert and his mother had asked her to help them gain custody back of Riley. So they had been trying since a couple weeks after Kim had left with Riley to gain custody back of her.

The grandmother saw on a news site about Baby Grace, clicked it and saw the sketch. Realizing that is where Riley may have been she called Galveston right away and asked for them to check up on Riley.

Here is the transcript:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0711/29/lkl.01.html

MamaMari

12-01-2007, 01:50 AM

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e107/MarisSiggieAlbum/rileyann.jpg

I made this, from my heart, Riley.

hissister

12-01-2007, 02:55 AM

MamaMari; beautiful, beautiful poem for little Riley. Every word is heart-touching and true. She was such a beautiful little girl. I see her eyes and can't (don't want to) imagine them filled with fear and tears. I can't stand it, it hurts too bad. But nothing like the hurt that this precious little girl felt.

Aslan

12-01-2007, 03:39 AM

Well done with the picture and tribute Mama. If only others knew that Guns n Roses actually had some beautiful lyrics.

Hissister, that's what makes me so sick about this, too. This little one, just wanting her mother's approval and a smile or a nice hug every night. All of a sudden in a brand new place with a head of the household who was not her daddy and who obviously didn't care whether she lived or died.

This poor little girl had no recourse, no way out. No where to go, no one to run to.
This simply breaks my heart. It also makes me wonder how many other Riley's are out there.

Now about the Larry King interview, I just have a question

SHERYL SAWYERS, RILEY ANN'S GRANDMOTHER: I just -- I was on my computer one day and on my home page, you know, a lot of little news articles pop up. And I'd seen the sketch. And, you know, at first I kind of looked at it and I thought, wow!, that kind of resembles her. And I clicked on the picture and I read the story and discovered that, you know, she was found in Texas, and which I knew -- I found out the end of August, actually, that my granddaughter was living in Texas. And so I called Galveston to have them check on her.

Didn't she go missing in July?

LAURA DEPLEDGE, ROBERT SAWYERS' ATTORNEY: Well, actually, Robert retained me back in June because we were trying to enforce the order of visitation. And we actually spent several months trying to locate Kimberly.

Now this is kind of weird. Obviously this is just mo, but didn't the dad give an interview about how he tried to talk her out of moving to Texas? Wasn't she living with him and his mom and then packed up?

Okay yeah, here's an article

Riley had been missing for four months after her mother took her from her Mentor home and moved to Texas with a man she met on the Internet. The Sawyers contacted police after seeing an artist's sketch of "Baby Grace" in the news.
They were unsuccessful in contacting Riley's mother regarding visitation, Sheryl Sawyers said.
"May 25 was the last time I saw her. I remember the day," an emotional Sawyers said.
She said Trenor lived with her and Riley's father, Robert Sawyers, for most of her granddaughter's life. She said she never bought Trenor's story that an Ohio official came with custody papers and took the girl several months ago.
In addition to the fact that Ohio authorities have no jurisdiction to take a child in Texas, she also wonders why her mother didn't question it or file a missing-person report.
"If I was the mother, they would have a fight to take my child with them," she said Friday.
She said she told Trenor not to take Riley away to live with a stranger.

http://www.allaroundcleveland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19060027&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6

:( I suppose my question would be, how hard did they look?

Not blaming them, as again we know who is responsible for this little one's death. Just not sympathetic to them, at the same time.
Heck, I've been known to drive over a state line to get a huge bundle of chocolate back. (It was a very nice gift from Sweden, btw)
Just getting the impression that dad left it to his mom to google and call, though nary a one got into a car and said "Give her back, now".

Aslan

12-01-2007, 04:06 AM

Whoops, forgot this from the above linked article. I would be banned if I typed what I thought, so I'll just hush.

"We're just trying to get through all this. It's very rough. I think saying this is hard is an understatement," Robert Sawyers said. "I'm devastated. It's hard to think that I'll never see her again.

:cuss:

hissister

12-01-2007, 07:06 AM

I didn't recognize the GunsNRoses lyrics. I was just looking at the picture of
Riley and reading the words, and thinking about how how sad it is that there even has to be such a tribute. Riley should be alive; she should be safe and well. Aslan; you said it so well. Riley had no recourse, no way out. Nowhere to go, no one to run to. She couldn't even run to "Mommy".
It's heart-breaking that there are other children (so many of them) being abused. How many Riley's? How many other little girls and boys?

sallynuts

12-02-2007, 06:09 AM

:flamemad: :flamemad: :flamemad:
I read the thing....

I am numb.... If there is any justice, karma or a god.. whatever you like to call it... i pray, wish,. hope that is comes back and bites these ,,,,,, whatever they are...

and i pray and hope and wish that, that poor little baby,, is now at some kind of peace,,, :rose: :rose: :rose: :rose:

odette

11-05-2008, 03:58 AM

Trial Begins for Mother Accused in 'Baby Grace' Death

The woman who is accused of taking part in the death and disposal of her daughter's body into Galveston Bay will face a jury trial in Galveston County beginning Monday.

• Article Continued

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7777773&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

odette

11-05-2008, 04:04 AM

Jury Selection Begins for 'Baby Grace' Mom

The mother of a two-year-old girl who was known as "Baby Grace" after her body was found in a container in Galveston Bay is facing a trial by jury for the murder of the child. Jury selection began this week for Kimberly Trenor who is charged with the death of her daughter, Riley Ann Sawyers.

Trenor's boyfriend, Royce Ziegler, has also been charged with murder and will have a separate trial.

The case made national headlines in October 2007 when a fisherman found Riley's body in a storage tub that washed up on the shore of an island in Galveston Bay. The child had been beaten, suffocated and drowned.

For months, police searched for the identification of "Baby Grace" using a composite sketch. She was finally identified by relatives of Riley's biological father.

Not Seeking Death Penalty

After her arrest, Trenor told investigators that Ziegler beat the two-year-old with leather belts, had her head held under water and was thrown across the room, hitting her head on a tile floor. Both Trenor and Ziegler were charged with capital murder.

Trenor was three-months pregnant when Riley died. She gave birth to a boy in July. The baby was released to Ternor's relatives by Child Protective Services.

Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty against either Trenor or Ziegler.

http://crime.about.com/b/2008/11/05/jury-selection-begins-for-baby-grace-mom.htm