The mother and two co-parents of a 7-year-old boy in Ohio face murder charges after the child’s grandparents hired a private investigator due to concerns about possible abuse. Reports indicate that Caitlin Evans, 38, Kirby Rankin, 33, and Nessa Keeney, 23, have pleaded not guilty in the case involving William Evans.
Cincinnati police determined that during a welfare check, a boy was found unresponsive in a closet. Authorities were alerted after a nurse reported an emergency situation in which a woman claimed someone had tried to kill her and taken her son, who she indicated was in a nearby apartment’s attic.
Records show that police dispatchers noted the child was discovered tied up and “not moving.” When first responders arrived at the scene, they found William had already died, according to information from the Cincinnati Fire Department.
Detective Kyle Smith shared in a court hearing that William had suffered severe abuse over the past couple of months, calling it one of the most disturbing child abuse cases he had ever encountered. Testimonies suggested the boy might have been submerged in water for a concerning duration. Furthermore, it emerged that Rankin had acknowledged being part of a long-term abusive situation involving William.
William’s grandparents expressed that they felt the boy’s living situation had become a “house of terror.” They mentioned how, about six weeks prior to his death, William conveyed his desire not to go home, which raised their concerns even further. They only managed to see him once during that time, noticing a bruise on him during the visit. Apparently, Caitlin had also limited their contact with William.
After gathering information indicating potential abuse, the grandparents consulted a lawyer and decided to employ a private investigator to observe Caitlin and William. The grandfather described how he had planned to keep tabs on the situation but was met by police when he arrived, only to learn of his grandson’s tragic death. The Homicide Unit of Cincinnati Police continues to investigate this unsettling case.
