fucked up news: child abuse
COLUMBUS, Ohio - An Ohio man has pleaded guilty to beating his 4-year-old stepson to death.
The Columbus Dispatch reports John Reeves was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after he whipped Lawrence King III with a leather belt and killed him at the family's Columbus home in March.
Reeves said he was trying to correct his stepson. An investigation found that Reeves beat the boy because he was acting up and wouldn't stand in the corner.
The 29-year-old Reeves apologized in court in Columbus Friday and said that he loved the boy "more than anybody will know."
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Lynch replied, "Trust me when I tell you, no one needs that kind of love."
Police say the boy's mother, 24-year-old Nikki Reeves, turned up the radio to drown out the sound of a beating. She's awaiting trial on child endangering and murder charges.
Reeves pleaded guilty to aggravated murder as part of a plea agreement that dropped four other charges: murder, felonious assault and two counts of child endangerment.
Lawrence's father, Lawrence King II, cried in court as a prosecutor described the boy's injuries. An autopsy showed that the boy had bleeding and swelling of the brain.
King accused Reeves of "taking my child from me over jealousy, over greed."
But Reeves' father, the Rev. Michael Reeves Sr., defended his son.
"John is not a thug," he said. "He is not the villain he has been portrayed in the media. ... I'm sorry for what happened, for what my son allegedly did, but there is more to the story."
The cut hides the details including injury descriptions and statments made in the court. so fucked up.
The Columbus Dispatch reports John Reeves was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after he whipped Lawrence King III with a leather belt and killed him at the family's Columbus home in March.
Reeves said he was trying to correct his stepson. An investigation found that Reeves beat the boy because he was acting up and wouldn't stand in the corner.
The 29-year-old Reeves apologized in court in Columbus Friday and said that he loved the boy "more than anybody will know."
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Julie Lynch replied, "Trust me when I tell you, no one needs that kind of love."
Police say the boy's mother, 24-year-old Nikki Reeves, turned up the radio to drown out the sound of a beating. She's awaiting trial on child endangering and murder charges.
Reeves pleaded guilty to aggravated murder as part of a plea agreement that dropped four other charges: murder, felonious assault and two counts of child endangerment.
Lawrence's father, Lawrence King II, cried in court as a prosecutor described the boy's injuries. An autopsy showed that the boy had bleeding and swelling of the brain.
King accused Reeves of "taking my child from me over jealousy, over greed."
But Reeves' father, the Rev. Michael Reeves Sr., defended his son.
"John is not a thug," he said. "He is not the villain he has been portrayed in the media. ... I'm sorry for what happened, for what my son allegedly did, but there is more to the story."
The cut hides the details including injury descriptions and statments made in the court. so fucked up.