Who Is 'Baby Grace'?

[odette]

Who Is 'Baby Grace'?

abc4.com - Last Update: 11/03 12:48 pm

GALVESTON - Police is Galveston are searching to not only find who killed a little girl, but the identity of the girl as well.

Investigators found the remains of a little girl stuffed inside a plastic storage container in West Galveston Bay on Monday. — continued

http://www.abc4.com/mostpopular/stor...5-9fe3ebc6bbc8

[odette]

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.

continued

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

[odette]

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. .....

continued

[odette]

Photo of shoes identical to those worn by decedent.


Image from Sterilite website of container in which decedent was found.

myfoxhouston

[odette]

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/...n/5266950.html

[odette]

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]

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]

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]

'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]

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]

GALVESTON CRIME STOPPERS

CRIME OF THE WEEK

Baby Grace

http://www.crimestoppersgalveston.com/

[Bluefox]

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.

[One2Snoop]

Originally Posted by Bluefox

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.

[odette]

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, 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]

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/s...0d0449278ad898

[odette]

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/new...cle2810316.ece

[Rheanna]

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

[charmaine]

Originally Posted by Rheanna

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

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.

[RaVeN71806]

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..

[Seashell]

[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]

[MamaMari]

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/...Y&pageId=3.2.1

http://www.abclocal.go.com/ktrk/stor...cal&id=5777245

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


Here is the video:

http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/...1&locale=EN-US


Pictures of Riley Ann Sawyers:

[SimplySue]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/...Y&pageId=1.1.1


http://www.19actionnews.com/global/v...5&rnd=28140801


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

[LatrobeGirl]

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

For the adults who were supposed to care for Riley and instead threw her away like yesterday's trash

[MamaMari]

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

http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/...Y&pageId=1.1.1

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

[Tangerine]

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]

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]

Originally Posted by LatrobeGirl

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

For the adults who were supposed to care for Riley and instead threw her away like yesterday's trash

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]

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

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!

Riley Ann, rest in peace and safety, sweet baby

[RaVeN71806]

Originally Posted by MamaMari

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

http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/...Y&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

[Marcia3]

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]

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]

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:

[Bluefox]

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]

Originally Posted by Bluefox

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.

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.

[SimplySue]

Originally Posted by Marcia3

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.

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.

[MamaMari]

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.

a million roses for you Riley.

[Grannynag58]

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.