Prosecutor: Slain toddler said 'I love you' at end GALVESTON, Texas – A slain toddler tried to stop her mother and stepfather from beating her to death by reaching out to her mother and saying, "I love you," a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday. The pleas from 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers didn't stop her mother, Kimberly Trenor, from continuing to brutalize her, assistant district attorney Kayla Allen said in her opening statement at Trenor's murder trial.
But defense attorney Tommy Stickler Jr. told the jury that Trenor, 20, never intended to kill her daughter in 2007 and that things just "spun out of control."
The toddler was dubbed "Baby Grace" by investigators who worked to identify her decomposed remains after the body was found in a plastic container in October 2007 on a tiny island in Galveston Bay.
Trenor's 25-year-old husband, Royce Zeigler II, is to be tried separately on murder charges. His attorney points the finger at Trenor.
Prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty because they didn't think they could prove that either one would be a future danger, as required.
During her opening statement, Allen detailed for jurors the day that she said Riley Ann died for forgetting to say "please" and "yes, sir."
Allen said that on July 25, 2007, Trenor and Zeigler disciplined Riley by whipping her with a belt, pushing her head against a pillow and holding her head under water. She said Zeigler grabbed Riley and tossed her across the room, fracturing her skull. An autopsy concluded the skull fractures caused her death.
"To the very end, Riley said, 'I love you' to her mom. She's reaching out," Allen said. "That's her lifeline, to her mother. What does Kim do after hearing her say I love you? She starts beating her."
Allen said the adults did nothing to help even as Riley lay dying.
She said the pair bought a plastic container, stuffed Riley's body inside and stored it in a shed for a month or two before setting it out to sea, prosecutors said.
Stickler portrayed Trenor as a scared 19-year-old girl who had moved to Texas from Ohio to marry a man she met while playing an online game. She said Riley's father, her former boyfriend, had assaulted her and Zeigler was her "knight in shining armor, her Texas cowboy."
"I don't want to use the word accident, but this wasn't something that was intentional," Stickler said.
Trenor could receive an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted of capital murder. The jury could also convict her of a lesser charge.
Riley's remains were unidentified for weeks until an Ohio woman, Sheryl Sawyers, saw an artist's sketch and told authorities she believed the girl was her granddaughter. Sawyers' son is Trenor's ex-boyfriend.
tomorrow User ID: 591566 United States 1/27/2009 6:40 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
I'm just glad that once her remains were found, they could identify her and build a case to bring charges against her mother and alleged step-father.
I just can't imagine how the little girl felt as she was dying. It must have been horrible. At times like this, I pray there is a heaven for these young victims.
I would do very evil things to these two, given the chance.. I expect nothing. I fear no one. I am free.
- Nikos Kazantzakis
"Before all else, be armed."
Niccolo Machiavelli
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them. Disagree with them. Glorify, or villify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."-Jack Kerouac
What's wrong with people. I was raised in an old-fashioned family, and taught never to beat up someone who wasn't at least my physical equal. In fact, I was told to help someone who can't defend themselves. Is that not a lesson people typically learn as kids? Political tags--such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and. so forth--are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort.
-Robert Heinlein
Anonymous Coward User ID: 526786 United States 1/27/2009 7:25 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
I can't read stuff like this....it sticks with me for days. Like that little Christopher Barrios boy....I still think about him and what he went through.
tomorrow User ID: 591566 United States 1/27/2009 7:34 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
What's wrong with people. I was raised in an old-fashioned family, and taught never to beat up someone who wasn't at least my physical equal. In fact, I was told to help someone who can't defend themselves. Is that not a lesson people typically learn as kids?
Quoting: The Guy
I just don't understand the mentality of someone who could hurt a child. Hearing them cry makes me want to hug them.
You hear about people throwing them across a room, to the floor, it is awful. Horrendous.
How and what deficiencies are at work when someone abuses a child? Why is there no stop mechanism? I think they are sadistic to begin with.
In NY, there is a felony animal abuse statute but not a felony child abuse statute. I tried to get one into a bill that would make it a crime to inflict serious harm on a child (intentional or indicative of a pattern). The prosecutors organization supported it.
You know what? The chief counsel of that fucking republican majority leader that was just indicted said to me "children don't vote." Once the shiver ran it's course, I looked him square in the eye and said "I am a woman, I can have children, and I vote."
What's wrong with people. I was raised in an old-fashioned family, and taught never to beat up someone who wasn't at least my physical equal. In fact, I was told to help someone who can't defend themselves. Is that not a lesson people typically learn as kids?
Quoting: The Guy
I know that I picked that up as a child...
I really can't tell you what is wrong with people in general, but these individuals at question, they are warped and broken people.
I don't know why this is so, but no sane normal person could or would do what they did. And all the whores and politicians will look up and shout "save us!"
And I'll look down and whisper "No."
coolhandluke74 Voice Chat Mod User ID: 550023 United States 1/27/2009 7:43 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
Execute them immediately, bullet to the head, one, two, done, throw the bodies in an incinerator with other garbage. ____________________________________________________
E-mail anytime SHRGLP@Yahoo.com
Inquiring about a ban?, include the IP address found here. [link to www.showmemyip.com]
A spectacle monopolized, they hold the reins and stole your eyes
Or the fistagons, the bullets and bombs
Who stuff the banks, who staff the party ranks
More for Gore or the son of a drug lord.
None of the above....fuck it, cut the cord.
Lights out! Guerrilla Radio
Turn that shit up.
It has to start somewhere, It has to start sometime.
What better place than here, what better time than now?
All hell can't stop us now!
coolhandluke74 Voice Chat Mod User ID: 550023 United States 1/27/2009 7:54 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
I long for the day when justice can be dealt properly and all these godamned lawyers stop mugging the cameras and making all their fuc*in money to create all these false defenses for these monsters they represent.
To take a quote from Pulp Fiction - I would get medieval on their asses...
This country and society in general has deteroriated into a fungus that is ruled by sick and demented people like these that only deserve to be shot in the head and thrown into a pit.
RememberThis Buffered User ID: 590443 United States 1/27/2009 8:00 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
I can't read stuff like this....it sticks with me for days. Like that little Christopher Barrios boy....I still think about him and what he went through.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 526786
Me too, I'm so sorry I clicked on this thread...
heart breaking simply heart breaking
FreeFlow User ID: 456207 Austria 1/27/2009 8:07 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
Initially I didn't want to read the story but now I did and I am angry at these sick fucks, and I feel extremely sorry for the poor baby girl. I am here to challenge your indoctrinated false belief that flaming queens don't use shovels ...
BOWMAN Something Wonderful User ID: 599577 United States 1/27/2009 8:08 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
I would not write it down here what I would do to these people.
------ “And I understood that in an age where there was so much ego, because of the camera, that it was very important to look for that kind of player, ... I began to look for the kind of player that doesn't need his ego fed by stardom, but will do what he's supposed to do because he knows the game and loves the game, and will do the job the right way even if someone else gets the glory.” ~ Bill Belichick
"Your viewpoint is absolutely sacred, for one simple reason. You're the only one who can have it." ~ Ian Xel Lungold
-------------------------------------
Pale Blue Dot
I can't read stuff like this....it sticks with me for days. Like that little Christopher Barrios boy....I still think about him and what he went through.
Me too, I'm so sorry I clicked on this thread...
heart breaking simply heart breaking
Quoting: Why ? 477574
It should stick in your craw like a dirtclod...dont ever forget what you have read here today, its what makes us human, and the only way to put an end to behavior like this is to see it for the evil it is. A computerized clinic
For Superior Cynics.
~Rush~ Natural Science
Duct Tape is like "The Force"
It has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together.
BOWMAN Something Wonderful User ID: 599577 United States 1/27/2009 8:14 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
I would not write it down here what I would do to these people.
------
Somehow I dont think they would mind....ledder rip Bowman
Quoting: RememberThis
Not to get too graphic but did you ever see that movie "Hostel"?
I'm pretty handy with an oxy/acetalene rig.
------ “And I understood that in an age where there was so much ego, because of the camera, that it was very important to look for that kind of player, ... I began to look for the kind of player that doesn't need his ego fed by stardom, but will do what he's supposed to do because he knows the game and loves the game, and will do the job the right way even if someone else gets the glory.” ~ Bill Belichick
"Your viewpoint is absolutely sacred, for one simple reason. You're the only one who can have it." ~ Ian Xel Lungold
-------------------------------------
Pale Blue Dot
Initially I didn't want to read the story but now I did and I am angry, and I feel sorry for the poor toddler.
Quoting: FreeFlow
Me, too. Me, too. Just think of how innocent children are at that age. All she knew as her safe place and source of comfort and love was her mom even while that stupid bitch was killing her. Bless her little heart.
The incredible horror that poor child endured...the person who should have protected her most in the world....the one person that child loved the most broke her heart even before she took her life....
This toddler is sitting at the right hand of Christ for his Loving action.
PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE NOTE OF THIS!
This is how all should act and treat others (like the child did, not the parents)
"love even your worst enemy" - Yeshua, The Christ I WILL NOT let consequences dictate my course of action!
A.K.A - Aresh, Awakened Me, An Ominous Coward (Howard), The Goddess Pandora, Aumon Haht Fith Ashai, Within The Flower and a few others...
------------------------------------
In all things, i am flowing back thru and in and out, within and without and beyond them.
This is the Cosm. This is both I and You.
I am the Truth, and I am the Lie - I am the very spark of the Divine!
------------------
as soon as you even go near these things your ego knows what it is.. its all like "what ya gonna do with that?" "Hope you not gonna take it" "cause i will throw myself down on the floor and scratch, claw and bite and tantrum" - Kyuubi
"the gift of love makes much more sense than frankincense gold and myrhh" - Only Me
rachel User ID: 529732 United States 1/27/2009 8:24 PM
Re: Prosecutor: Slain TODDLER said 'I love you' at end
Not to get too graphic but did you ever see that movie "Hostel"?
I'm pretty handy with an oxy/acetalene rig.
------
I get yer drift
Quoting: RememberThis
Man these stories get me so pissed.
That poor kid, she's better off where she is now.
------ “And I understood that in an age where there was so much ego, because of the camera, that it was very important to look for that kind of player, ... I began to look for the kind of player that doesn't need his ego fed by stardom, but will do what he's supposed to do because he knows the game and loves the game, and will do the job the right way even if someone else gets the glory.” ~ Bill Belichick
"Your viewpoint is absolutely sacred, for one simple reason. You're the only one who can have it." ~ Ian Xel Lungold
-------------------------------------
Pale Blue Dot
Disclaimer: This website exists for entertainment purposes only. The reader is responsible for discerning the validity, factuality
or implications of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events. Moderators on this forum make every
effort to review the material posted on this site however, it is not realistically possible for our small staff to manually
review each and every one of the more than 10,000 posts GodlikeProductions gets on a daily basis.
The content of post
on this site, including but not limited to links to other web sites, are the expressed opinion of the original poster and are in
no way representative of or endorsed by the owners or administration of this website. The posts on this website are the opinion of
the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or factual information on behalf of the owner or
administration of GodlikeProductions.
This site may contain adult content and if you feel you might be offended by such content, you should log off immediately.
Not all posts on this website are intended as truthful or factual assertion by their authors. Some users of this website are participating in internet role playing, with or without the use of an avatar. NO post on this website should be considered factual information on face value alone. Users are encouraged to USE DISCERNMENT and do their own follow up research while reading and posting on this website. Godlikeproductions.com reserves the right to make changes to, corrections and/or remove entirely at any time posts made on this website without notice. In addition, Godlikeproductions.com disclaims any and all liability for damages incurred directly or indirectly as a result of a post on this website.
This site is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. You should not assume that this site is error-free or that it will be suitable for the particular purpose which you have in mind when using it. In no event shall Godlikeproductions.com be liable for any special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages of any kind, or any damages whatsoever, including, without limitation, those resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether or not advised of the possibility of damage, and on any theory of liability, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of this site or other documents which are referenced by or linked to this site.
Some events depicted in certain posting and threads on this website may be fictitious and any similarity to any person living or dead is merely coincidental. Some other articles may be based on actual events but which in certain cases incidents, characters and timelines have been changed for dramatic purposes. Certain characters may be composites, or entirely fictitious.
We do not discriminate against the mentally ill!
Fair Use Notice: This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Users may make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of issues relating to civil rights, economics, individual rights, international affairs, liberty, science & technology, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C.Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information please visit: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
Please be aware any communications sent complaining about a post on this website may be posted publicly at the discretion of the administration.
This Disclaimer is subject to change at anytime.
Mail Webmaster with questions or comments about this site.
United States
Canada
Austria
