Ava-Jayne Corless

Ava-Jayne Corless 

March 9 2013 - February 10 2014

Age: 11 months old 

Ava was born to loving parents Chloe King and Dean Corless in Lancashire, England. Chloe and Dean split up shortly after Ava-Jayne was born. Chloe met Lee Wright and began dating him. Ava-Jayne was described as an absolutely beautiful baby with dark curly hair who was always happy. 

On February 10 2014, Ava-Jayne was staying at Lee's home. That night, Chloe and Lee slept on the couch downstairs while Ava-Jayne slept upstairs in a crib. Lee had a pitbull dog named Snoop. At night, Lee usually kept him in the kitchen due to him destroying cushions and other household belongings in the past. So as usual Lee got Snoop in the kitchen and put a speaker and a golf bag in the doorway so he couldn't escape. During the night, Snoop had managed to escape and wondered upstairs. 

At 11am when Lee woke up, he went upstairs to wake up Ava, Chloe followed. It was dark in the room and the young couple had just woken up, Chloe picked Ava up, who was very floppy, and Ava began making grunting noises. When Lee turned the light on they realised that Ava-Jayne was covered in blood. They immediately called 999 and the ambulance arrived soon after. Despite their best efforts, the doctors were unable to save baby Ava and she passed away in the hospital. 

Ava suffered catastrophic injuries to her neck, head and chest. Snoop had mauled Ava almost to death in her sleep. Chloe was arrested on suspected neglect and Lee was arrested on suspicion of owning an illegal pitbull breed. Snoop was later euthanised.

Lee was found guilty of possessing a dangerous dog and was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison. Chloe was released without charge. 

Rest in peace angel Ava-Jayne.

Kyleigh McDaniel-Robinson

Kyleigh McDaniel-Robinson 

March 9 2009 - March 18 2010

Age: 12 months old 

Kyleigh was born to Mackenzie McDaniel and Nicholas Robinson. Shortly after Kyleigh was born, Mackenzie and Nicholas split up. Mackenzie met and began dating a man named Alexander Stolte. On March 18 2010, Alexander called Mackenzie three times on the night of Kyleigh's death. He would call her to tell her that one of Kyleigh's eyes looked droopy, then to say that she would not go to sleep, the third call was to tell her that Kyleigh was not breathing and he had called 911. Kyleigh was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Kyleigh had a fractured leg at the time of her death that was in process of healing. She also had multiple head injuries aswell as bleeding inside her brain. Kyleigh had four broken ribs and two broken fingers.

Mackenzie had only been dating Alexander for about three months the night he killed Kyleigh. Police say that he had been drinking, which at first he denied. Mackenzie had only asked Alexander to watch Kyleigh for a couple hours while she went to work.

According to the police, Alexander tried to say that Kyleigh had fallen over and that is what caused the injuries that had killed her that night. Kyleigh died of blunt trauma to her head. Kyleigh had turned one just a couple weeks before she died. Alexander Stolte was sentenced to just 15-30 years in prison.

Rest in peace angel Kyleigh.

Kyleigh with her father, Nicholas. Kyleigh was his world and he loved her very much.

Karla Sheehan

Karla "Karla" Isabelle Ruth Sheehan 

January 4 2002 - June 3 2005

Age: 3 years old 

Karla was born to David and Sarah Sheehan. The following summer, David and Sarah got a divorce, but continued to share custody of Karly. In September 2004, Sarah met a man named Shawn Field. They began to date and moved in together. Shawn was extra controlling over Sarah and their finances as well as Karly. 

When Karly would go to daycare, she would sleep for hours as if she was exhausted from not sleeping that night before. In October 2004, Sarah brought Karly to daycare with her hair cut short. Little by little she started to lose her hair until she had bald spots. Karly had stopped crying for her mother when she was dropped off at daycare and would cry out for her father instead.

On November 16, 2004 Karly Sheehan told a daycare worker, Delynn Zoller that she was being hit:

“My dad hits me all the time,” Karly said.

“What?” The daycare provider asked shocked.

“Yes, he hits me on the head all the time.”

“Daddy David?” asked Delynn.

“Yes,” responded Karly. “You need to talk to my daddy.”

“What should I say?” Delynn asked.

“You need to tell him, ‘No! He needs to stop hitting me,” Karly told Delynn.

The daycare worker, Delynn Zoller called DHS to report Karly’s abuse that same day. DHS reported that when she was on the phone with Delynn, she could hear Karly in the background asking when her Daddy was going to pick her up. Delynn told Karly “Oh honey, your mommy is coming to get you tonight.” Karly starting to cry severely and say, “I want my daddy, I want my daddy.”

DHS opened a case of Karly’s suspected abuse. They suspected either her father, David, her mother, Sarah, or her mother’s boyfriend, Shawn Field. Sarah denied leaving Karly alone with her boyfriend, Shawn, but acknowledged that her move in with him may be the reason for Karly’s behavior. In December 2004, Karly Sheehan began to spend more time with her father, David and was starting to improve.

On December 7th, 2004 DHS closed the case. “Based on the information I learned in my investigation, I do not believe Sarah or David are physically abusing Karly; nor anyone else I identified.” Sarah Sheehan moved into her own apartment soon after and promised Karly wouldn’t be around Shawn. 

On May 30, 2005, Sarah had bought groceries and was going to take them to Shawn’s house. Once Karly heard that, she threw up and had a panic attack once they arrived at his house. A couple of days later, Sarah left Karly alone with Shawn for the night. When Sarah went to pick her up that next morning, Karly had a large bruise on her eye and was swelling it shut and bruised feet. Shawn said she had jumped off the bunk bed. 

On June 3, 2005, Sarah was trying to find out what was wrong with Karly so she used play therapy. That’s when Karly asked if she could go be with Jesus. Sarah still left Karly with Shawn for a couple of hours and when she came back, she found Karly laying lifeless on the bedroom floor. One of her eyes were bruised and swollen shut.  That same day, Karly was pronounced dead.

Karly had 60 separate injuries from head to toe. She had “substantial trauma to the head, physical symptoms consistent with asphyxiation by smothering.” 

On November 8th, 2006 Shawn Field was convicted of Karly Sheehan murder. He was sentenced to 46 years in prison. In May 2007 Karly’s law was passed to help other child abuse victims.

Rest in peace angel Karla.

Devon Stants

Devon Richard Stants 

May 16 1998 - June 23 1999

Age: 13 months old 

In July 1998, Devon's mother Laura realised that Devon wasn't lifting his head up. She called the doctor and they said that if he lifted his head up by himself then he was okay. In August 1998, Laura called them again because she was still concerned that Devon wasn't doing this. They called her a over-worried mother and told her Devon would learn to lift his head up when he was ready.

Still not satisfied, Laura brought three month old Devon into the doctors. When he was seen, the doctor pulled his arms up and dropped them, over and over, and same with the legs. He said "Something is wrong.  His muscle tone is all wrong, we need to run some tests." Laura replied "for what?" The doctor replied, "He probably has Muscular Dystrophy or some other form of neuromuscular disease. "

That day, three month old Devon was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). His parents, Steve and Laura, were absolutely heartbroken.

Over the next few months, Devon stopped eating. He had to have a g-tube put in place to help him stay healthy. Devon also would not move when he was put on the ground, which is unusual for babies because they kick their legs and wiggle. Devon also had a CT Scan for Cerebral Palsy, however that test came back negative.

Little Devon battled this horrible disease, which has no cure, for ten months. His family slowly watched as Devon's innocent body slowly shut down.

On June 22 1999, Devon woke up grey and his eyes would no focus. He was taken hospital where the doctor softly told Steve and Laura "I'm afraid it's time to let Devon go" The next day, baby Devon passed away in his mother's arms. With his father holding his hand. He looked calm and peaceful.

Brock Riemath

Brock William Riemath 

December 30 1988 - June 17 1997

Age: 8 years old 

Brock's nickname was Rascal. He had a older sister called Deanie who was nine years old at the time. One summers day, Rascal and Deanie were riding in the back of a pickup on their way to a baseball game. When Rascal’s baseball cap flew off, they yelled to their dad to stop the truck. Brock had cleats on and there was loose gravel. Somehow Rascal fell backwards. He fell out and the truck was travelling around forty miles per hour. A pebble hit the bottom of his skull and lodged within a centimeter of his brain. Deanie yelled to their father and he stopped the truck. He immediately saw Brock around twenty metres away and ran towards him. The baseball cap was now around one hundred metres away. Deanie was sobbing, still in the back of the truck.

Brock's dad put his shirt under his head, my brother got the blood out of his mouth, and we called 911. EMT was able to stabilize Rascal, but many anxious days of waiting followed for the Riemath family. Finally, the hospital staff gathered them and discussed what life might be like once they brought Rascal home. He had sustained damage to the frontal lobe. While the discussion was going on, Rascal sat up and coughed. Excess fluid went into his brain stem, and when he lay down, the brain stem herniated. He was on ventilators, and, technically, he was alive, but his brain was dead. The Riemath family had to make the hard choice to remove their son from life support. Brock was able to save nine lives by donating his organs.

Avery King

Avery Nicole King 

June 1 2004 - May 24 2006

Age: 23 months old 

Avery was born to Tony and Anita King. One day in late May, Anita, who is very family oriented, went to Covington, GA to watch her niece in a talent show. Anita and her sister were having such a good time together, she decided to stay another day. That afternoon, they decided to take the kids to McDonald’s for lunch.

When it was time to leave, Anita picked up Avery to carry her out and her sister took the hands of her two children. In the parking lot, Anita saw a car coming and made eye contact with the driver. The driver was called Lanny Perry Barnes. He smiled at her and then immediately accelerated and slammed into her and her family. Anita flew into the windshield and Avery was thrown from her arms.

The car backed up and repeatedly drove forward hitting Anita over and over. Anita could see her sister trapped under the car with one of her children. When he finally drove away, Anita ran to her baby and picked her up.  Avery appeared to be unconscious but didn’t look hurt. Anita took her inside and talked to her, “It’s Mommy, baby.” Her sister and nieces were badly hurt and by now the ambulance was there to take them all to the hospital.

Little Avery was hanging on by a thread. The medics put her in a stretcher and she was flown by helicopter to a hospital.  Anita’s own pain set in from her injuries of a broken leg and head injury. Her body racked with pain from being hit over and over by the car.

Avery had now quit breathing and was put on life-support over night.  The next morning, tests showed that there was no brain activity. Anita and Tony had to say goodbye to their precious baby.  Avery Nicole died of massive head injury at 3:50 pm on May 24, 2006, six days before her second birthday. Lanny Barnes was sentenced to life in prison. He later said that he was "looking for a family to kill".

Natallie McNelly

Natallie Elizabeth McNelly

January 19 1999 - January 11 2000

Age: 11 months old 

Natallie accidentally drowned in a bathtub just eight days before her first birthday. She had only been walking around three weeks. At the scene, police asked Natallie's mother Anita what happened.  Anita claimed she filled the bathtub because she wanted to take a bath. She left the bathroom and walked to the living room where her two children were playing. Three year old Brittany and 11 month old Natallie. She said that Brittany then went to the toilet. Anita then smoked a cigarette in the living room. She said that next thing she knew, Brittany was calling her. 

Anita responded and noticed the water had been turned on. Both children were clothed and in the bathtub. In fact, the tub was almost overflowing at the time. Anita noticed that Natallie was not moving, and she appeared to be floating. She couldn't recall if Natallie was face up or face down. Anita pulled her from the tub and started CPR. Anita stated she managed to force some fluid from her lungs at the start of CPR.However, Natallie was blue around the lips as she continued to try. Anita stated that she called 911 and waited for help to arrive. The officer asked Anita if she had CPR training. Anita stated CPR training was obtained in high school as a student. Many people do not believe Anita's story as she changed it many times in questioning. Anita also never showed any emotion during the whole experience said police and ambulance staff. "Her hair is not wet. There is just a little bit of dampness near her temples and behind her ears, but the crown of her head and the hair there is completely dry." Autopsy revealed that Natallie died due to drowning, however her entire head was completely dry. (??) This case is kind of confusing. No body was ever charged with Natallie's death.