How Could You? Hall of Shame-Thomas Boyles 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 Longmont, Colorado, foster parents Cassidy Renee Lemmon,22, and Vincent Ray Johnson, 25, “were arrested Saturday by Longmont police in connection with the April 2019 death of a foster child in their care.

The abuse occurred between January and April of that year, according to arrest records. Longmont police Deputy Chief Jeff Satur confirmed the child died on April 24, two days after being taken to a hospital.

Cassidy Renee Lemmon, of Longmont, was arrested on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death by knowingly or recklessly causing injury to a child’s life or health.

Other potential charges include knowingly or recklessly permitting a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that posed a threat of injury to the child’s life or health, as well as engaging in a pattern of conduct that results in the death of a child.

Vincent Ray Johnson, of Longmont, was arrested on suspicion of knowingly or recklessly injuring a child’s life or health.

Other potential charges include permitting a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that poses a threat of injury to a child’s life or health, as well as engaging in a pattern of conduct that results in the death of a child.

The lead detective on the case, Sandie Jones, “worked very hard on this case to get it the point we could make an arrest,” Longmont police Deputy Chief Jeff Satur said.

Because the case involves child abuse, Satur said, Longmont police could not release more information about the child’s death, including the cause, or the child’s identity, including their age or gender.”

Two Longmont residents arrested in connection with foster child’s death
[Boulder Daily Camera 4/5/2020 by Amy Bounds]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:“The toddler at the center of a foster care child abuse case died as a result of numerous head and internal injuries and also had some healed wounds and extensive bruising, according to an affidavit released Monday.

Vincent Ray Johnson, 25, and Cassidy Renee Lemmon, 22, are both facing three charges of child abuse resulting in death.

According to the affidavit, the three counts are for knowing or recklessly causing injury, permitting a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that posed a threat to the child’s health, and continued pattern of conduct that resulted in mistreatment or an accumulation of injuries that results in death.

While Longmont police and the affidavit have not identified the child, a separate release from the Boulder County Coroner’s Office stated the death of 1-year-old Thomas Boyles, who died on the same date and at the same place as the child in the affidavit, was being investigated by the office.

According to the affidavit, the toddler was related to Johnson and had been living in foster care with Johnson, his common-law wife Lemmon, and their young daughter since November 2018.

Police said Lemmon called 911 on April 22, 2019, and said the child was not breathing and she was doing CPR. The child was taken to Longmont United Hospital and later airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Aurora.

The toddler was pronounced dead on April 24, two days after the 911 call.

Police were called when doctors noted suspicious bruising on the toddler’s face, stomach and limbs.

According to the affidavit, forensic pathologist Dr. Meredith Frank determined the boy died as a result of blunt force injuries to the head and trunk. In addition, Frank noted the presence of some healed rib fractures.

While CPR was performed, Frank said the injuries were not consistent with damage caused solely by CPR, and said, “There is not a sufficient explanation for the severity of the head injuries or healing rib fractures.

Noting the death was “highly suspicious in nature,” Frank ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Both Johnson and Lemmon initially denied ever abusing the boy, saying the child bruised easily and had a habit of hitting himself on walls or toys. They also said the boy was sick in the days leading up to his death, according to the affidavit.

But the woman who had fostered the toddler before Johnson and Lemmon said she had never seen any evidence of self-harming and he did not bruise easily.

Doctors noted the injuries were “too severe” to be self-harming behavior. They also noted the injuries were to the toddler’s soft tissue areas, not protruding hard areas or joints where accidental injuries would be expected.

Doctors said the injuries were more consistent with a child being thrown down or shaken violently.

Witnesses also reported seeing a recent change in the toddler’s behavior along with the bruising, noting the boy stopped interacting and seemed “flat.”

When confronted with the fact that medical evidence did not support their story, Johnson said Lemmon initially treated the boy like her own son, but eventually began ignoring him or becoming angry when he sought attention.

Johnson said he saw Lemmon on occasion pick up the boy by his limbs and throw him into his play area, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, Johnson told police the night after the boy died Lemmon got drunk and said, “I’m really sorry.”

Johnson admitted he also might have squeezed the boy too hard and yelled at him, and also said he should have done more to stop the abuse.

But when confronted with medical evidence and Johnson’s testimony, Lemmon said Johnson had temper tantrums and would also hit and shake the boy.

Police and firefighters also noted Johnson and Lemmon’s house was cluttered and smelled of pet urine and marijuana.

Johnson remains in custody on $25,000 bond and is set for a formal filing of charges on Wednesday. Lemmon was able to post her $25,000 bond and had her first appearance scheduled for June 17.”

Affidavit: Toddler in Longmont foster abuse case died of blunt force injuries

[Times Call 4/6/2020 by Mitchell Byars]

Update 2:“A judge on Monday upheld the child abuse charges filed against the foster parents of a toddler who died as a result of numerous head and internal injuries in 2019.

Vincent Johnson, 26, and Cassidy Lemmon, 23, were both charged with three counts of felony child abuse in the death of Thomas Boyles, who was 16 months old.

All three of Lemmon’s charges are Class 2 felonies, while two of Johnson’s are Class 2 felonies and a third is a Class 3 felony.

At a preliminary hearing Monday, Boulder County Judge J.P. Martin ruled there was enough evidence in the case for the charges to continue to district court, and set both Johnson and Lemmon for an arraignment on Oct. 16.

Both defendants remain out of custody on $25,000 bonds.

The only person to take the stand Monday during the preliminary hearing, which does allow hearsay testimony, was Longmont police Detective Sandy Jones.

Jones said police were called to Johnson and Lemmon’s house on April 22, 2019, because Boyles was not breathing. Boyles was taken to Longmont United Hospital and later airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Aurora.

But Jones said doctors found numerous injuries and a “severe” brain bleed, and Boyles was pronounced dead two days after the 911 call.

Jones said doctors and paramedics noted bruises and other suspicious injuries that were consistent with a “battered baby.”

“This was not a self-injury,” Jones testified. “The injuries that caused his death were injuries that were caused by someone.”

Jones said an autopsy found “severe blunt force injuries to the head and to the trunk,” with bleeding in Boyles’ brain, a spinal cord contusion, new and old rib injuries and a lacerated liver.

The death was ruled a homicide by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office.

“Pretty much his whole body had an injury on it,” Jones testified when asked about the extent of the injuries.

Boyles was related to Johnson and had been living in foster care with Johnson, his common-law wife Lemmon, and their young daughter since November 2018.

Both Johnson and Lemmon initially denied abusing Boyles, saying the child bruised easily and had a habit of hitting himself on walls or toys.

But Jones said Johnson’s mother came to police after her son had admitted there was abuse in the home. Jones said Johnson said Lemmon would often grab Boyles by an arm and “fling” him toward his toy box.

“When (Johnson) was telling his mother about what was happening, he said Cassidy Lemmon was being mean to Thomas Boyles and how she was physically abusing him,” Jones said. “Mr. Johnson talked about how Cassidy Lemmon was throwing Thomas Boyles and hitting him.”

Jones said Johnson also admitted he would squeeze Boyles to try and get him to stop crying, which likely accounted for the older rib injuries seen on the autopsy.

“The timeline lined up with Johnson squeezing to get (Boyles) to stop crying,” Jones said.

But police said Lemmon was the one at home with Boyles on the day he died and that the timeline for the fatal injuries given by the coroner made her the primary suspect.

“(Johnson) didn’t want to say it, but he said he believed Ms. Lemmon was the cause of Thomas dying,” Jones said.

When brought in for additional questioning, Jones said Lemmon said she “forgot” to mention that Johnson was the one who was abusive toward Boyles.”

Judge upholds charges in fatal Longmont child abuse case

[Times-Call 8/31/2020 by Mitchell Byars]

Update 3:
A look at the Boulder Colorado court records shows that Vincent has a hearing on 1/15/21.

Update 4:“The foster parents of a toddler who died as a result of numerous head and internal injuries in 2019 are set for a joint trial on multiple child abuse charges next year.

Vincent Johnson, 26, and Cassidy Lemmon, 23, are both charged with three counts of felony child abuse in the death of Thomas Boyles, who was 16 months old.

Both Johnson and Lemmon have pleaded not guilty and are now scheduled for a 15-day trial starting Jan. 18.[2022] Both are also set for a motions hearing on Nov. 29.

Both are out of custody on $25,000 bonds.”

Longmont foster parents set for trial in fatal child abuse case
[Times-Call 5/21/21 by MITCHELL BYARS]

Update 5:“One of the kinship foster parents charged in the death of a toddler had her trial moved back to 2023.

Cassidy Renee Lemmon, 24, is charged with three counts of child abuse resulting in death and had been set for trial starting July 18.

But online court records show that trial date was canceled, and a new three-week trial was scheduled to start on Feb. 13, [2023].”

Foster parent has trial in fatal child abuse case pushed back to 2023
[Times Call 7/8/22 by Mitchell Byars]

Update 6:“A 25-year-old former foster mother in Colorado has been convicted of killing her 16-month-old foster child, who authorities say regularly appeared with fresh bruises on his face and head in the months leading up to his death. A Boulder County jury on Monday found Cassidy Renee Lemmon guilty on two counts of child abuse — knowingly/recklessly causing death and one count of child abuse — negligence causing death in the 2019 slaying of young Thomas Eugene Boyles, authorities confirmed to Law&Crime.”

Foster mom who called 1-year-old ‘worse than the devil’ convicted in his brutal death
[Law & Crime 7/25/23 by Jerry Lambe]

“Her sentencing was originally scheduled for Oct. 30, however was recently rescheduled to Nov. 29 at 2 p.m.”
Sentencing in Longmont foster care child abuse moved to November

[Times-Call 10/24/23 by Nicky Andrews]

Update 7:“A Longmont woman who was found guilty of abusing and killing her 16-month-old foster child was sentenced to 40 years in prison Wednesday.

Cassidy Lemmon, 25, was found guilty by a Boulder County jury in July on two Class 2 felony counts of child abuse – knowingly/recklessly causing death and a Class 3 felony count of child abuse – negligence causing death.

Lemmon received 40 years for each of the two counts child abuse, but both sentences will run concurrently. The two counts will also run concurrently with a 15-year sentence for the child abuse – negligence causing death charge.”
Longmont foster mother sentenced to 40 years in fatal child abuse case
[Denver Post 11/3023 by Nicky Andrews]