How Could You? Hall of Shame-Destine King case-Child Death UPDATED
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Cordova, Tennessee, a six year-old Foster child “is dead tonight and police have charged a 14-year old boy with her murder.
The child was in Department of Child Service custody and with a foster family in Cordova when sources say she was attacked along with two other children.
Sources tell us one had a punctured lung, the other a broken back.
They and the little girl who died were all in the same Cordova home.
Christmas eve, a DCS worker came to check on the three foster children inside the home on ….
The worker reportedly noticed something didn’t seem quite right with a six-year-old girl inside the home, and took her to the hospital.
Sources close to the situation tell us the child had brain injuries and died Monday.[December 28, 2015]
Neighbors say DCS and MPD were on their block for quite some time.
Officers confirm a 14-year old was charged in the child’s death.
DCS says two other foster children were removed from the home and their medical needs are being addressed.
Sources tell us one of those kids had a broken back and the other a collapsed lung and authorities suspect the 14-year old was responsible in all three injuries as he babysat the kids while his grandmother worked.
“That little boy played basketball everyday,” said one neighbor.
“seemed normal”
Police say the teen faces charges connected to first degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
Neighbors say they had no signs of any of this, just the several police in front the home much of Christmas Eve.
The teen is in custody.
Both Memphis police and the Department of Children’s Services are investigating the incident.”
6-year old girl dead, after attack in Cordova foster care home, police arrest a 14-year old [News Channel 3 12/29/15 by Wayne Carter]
“The 14-year-old tasked with babysitting three children, one of whom later died, has been charged with first degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
According to police, the teenager was taking care of the 6-year-old girl, and two others while his grandmother worked.
On Christmas Eve, a Department of Children’s Services employee stopped by the home to check in on the foster family.
When she noticed something was wrong with the child, she rushed her to Le Bonheur where she later died from brain injuries.
Two other foster children inside that home on Beaver Trail were removed and reportedly also have injuries.
One of them had a broken back, the other a collapsed lung.
Sources told WREG the 14-year-old was responsible for the injuries.
He was taken into custody and charged.”
Teen Charged with First Degree Murder, child abuse after foster child dies [News Channel 3 12/30/15 by Eryn Taylor]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update: “A 14-year-old boy is charged in connection with the death of a 6-year-old foster child. That same boy is also facing charges of child abuse for beating two other foster children.
A 6-year-old girl went to the hospital just days before Christmas. She was later pronounced dead.
According to police, on December 23, the 6-year-old, a 7-year-old boy, and a 9-year-old girl were all left in the care of a 14-year-old boy, Antonio Evans, while their foster mother was at work. Sources said Evans is not a foster child.
Memphis police found 6-year-old Destine King unresponsive in her Cordova foster home in the 1400 block of Beaver Trail. According to investigators, the girl had a bruised and swollen face when they arrived to the scene.
Officers said all three young children were beaten. They were all taken to the hospital.
King was in critical condition when she went to the hospital. Police said she died on December 27. Her cause of death has not been determined at this time.
The 7-year-old and 9-year-old have been released from the hospital. Police have not released their names.
Evans is accused of beating all three children. He is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and two counts of coercing a witness.
Neighbors are shocked to learn days later that the little girl died.
“I just pray that it’s not true. But, I really hope that this definitely gets resolved. If the situation is true and it turns out to be true, the boy is definitely going to have to face the consequences for what he’s done,” Cory Bell, a neighbor, said.
Memphis Police and the Department of Children’s Services are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Neither departments would release the name of the foster parent.
DCS said they have moved the two children to different foster homes at this time.
Neighbors, who fear for the safety and do not want to be identified, said they have met the family before.
“For me, like, it’s terrible…these things. I don’t know, I guess they are not normal people can do these things. Maybe he has a mental problem,” the neighbor said.
MPD said “Due to the fact that the cause of death has not been determined at this point, this investigation is a death investigation and has not been ruled a homicide. No additional charges have been filed at this time.”
Some area teenagers said Evans is the step-brother of the foster mother’s grandson. They said Evans did not live in the home.
“He didn’t do it,” one of the neighbors, who did not want to be identified, said. “They like mind, they not disrespectful. They were nice kids.”
The teenagers said the foster children are all related, but they are not related to the foster mother. It is unclear why the three young children were removed from their home.
Jeff Ward is an attorney who represents parents trying to get their children back from the state. He said a child dying in foster care is unusual in Shelby County.
“It’s very rare,” Ward said.
Shelby County Juvenile Court has not announced Evans’ arraignment date.
MPD said it is up to the courts to decide if he will be tried as an adult. At this point, police have not charged the foster mother in the case.”
Teen charged in death of child; police identify teen and victim [Fox 19 12/31/15 by Janice Broach]
Update 2: “The 14-year-old boy accused of beating a 6-year-old girl to death faced a judge for the first time on Monday.
Antonio Evans will stay behind bars until his next court date. The 14-year-old is charged with the murder of Destine King. He also faces several other charges, including aggravated child abuse and attempted first degree murder.
Prosecutors said according to the law, those charges are enough to keep him in a juvenile detention center.
“No comment” was the only thing Evans’ public defender would tell FOX13 as she left court with a group of people who also would not speak to us
Along with murder, the 14- year-old faces a long list of charges: three counts of felony attempted first degree murder, three counts of aggravated child abuse, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of coercion of a witness.
MPD told FOX13 King had bruises and a swollen face when she was taken to the hospital. She died a few days later.
Evans is also accused of beating a 7-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl left in his care while the children’s foster mother was at work.
An Assistant District Attorney told FOX13 Evans will be back within two weeks for another court appearance. ”
14-year-old charged with murder appears in court [FOX 13 1/4/16 by Lynnanne Nguyen]
Update 3:“The teenager accused of beating a 6-year-old foster child to death in December appeared in court on Wednesday.
Antonio Evans’ uncle, James Johnson, was in juvenile court to support his nephew. He sat in court as his nephew faced a judge for allegedly beating 6-year-old Destine King to death inside her Cordova foster home.
“I’m kind of sad, but at the same time I just put it in God’s hands,” Johnson said.
Police also said Evans badly beat two other foster children. Because of this, the prosecution wants to charge the juvenile as an adult.
He faces multiple charges including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated assault. Family members said the foster mother who left Evans at the home without adult supervision bears some of the blame.
Johnson hopes, despite the horrific acts Evans is accused of committing, Evans will eventually get a chance to lead a normal life.
“I hope he gets a chance to raise his own family. He said he wanted to be a father,” Johnson said.
Both the defense and prosecution declined to discuss the case.”
Family: Teen accused of killing foster child wanted to be a father [Fox 6 news 2/24/16 by Brix Fowler]
Update 4:“A Cordova 18-year-old was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday after pleading guilty to beating a young child to death while babysitting in 2015.
Prosecutors say Antonio Evans was 14 when he was tasked with babysitting three young foster children — ages 6, 7 and 9. Evans himself was being fostered at the time by the daughter of the children’s foster mother.
Over the course of three days, prosecutors say Evans punched, kicked, slapped and whipped the children with a belt and cord. Police were called when 6-year-old Destine King started vomiting and became unresponsive.
King died five days later.
Prosecutors say the surviving children told investigators Evans threatened them if they told anyone.
Evans pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated child abuse of a child younger than 8.”
Teen babysitter pleads guilty to beating 6-year-old girl to death
[WMC ACtion News 11/23/19]
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