By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-11 22:36:14 | Updated at 2026-08-11 23:05:00
52 minutes ago
A depraved mother and her two trans lovers allegedly tortured and killed her developmentally disabled 7-year-old son, who was found dead and duct-taped inside a closet in her Ohio home.
The body of little William Evans, 7, was discovered by police on Thursday at the family’s Cincinnati house, and the horrific scene shocked even hardened law enforcement officers and medical professionals.
Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that she “opened the closet door” at the Evans residence and “just froze for a while.”
“The cause of death for this little boy was blunt trauma to the head,” she continued.
The boy’s mother, Kaitlin Evans, 38, and her live-in partners, Nessa Keaney, 23, and Kirby Rankin, 33, allegedly burned, beat and water-tortured William, authorities said.
The trio of suspects, who were arrested Thursday, are facing murder and child endangerment charges.
Veteran homicide detective Kyle Smith testified in court on Friday that the case was “the most disturbing” example of abuse he’s ever witnessed, FOX19 reported.
“In my 21 years of law enforcement experience, this is probably one of the most disturbing examples of child abuse that I’ve witnessed: physical beatings and blunt force injuries from striking devices on the face, torso, back, and upper and lower extremities,” he said in court, according to FOX56.
Smith further explained he believes Evans was subjected to water and burn torture before he was left in the closet.
Evans’ head was fractured and the bones were “separated,” according to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office — noting that they are also looking into a “possible weapon” and that the physical abuse was apparent all over Evans’ body.
Sexual abuse has not been ruled out and the grisly case is still under investigation.
Evans, Keaney and Rankin were lovers and live-in roommates who coparented Evans, according to the Daily Mail.
The boy’s other biological parent — who was not charged in the case — told Evans in court that “Willie was my life. I trusted you to care for him,” as they sobbed.
“They kept him from me for the past nine months over lies.”
Evans’ lawyer, Brandon Fox, said that the evidence will demonstrate “another individual who has been charged with this crime caused the death of this child.”
“We believe the state’s theory as it relates to Ms. Evans will be a failure to act.”
Evans, Keaney, and Rankin remain behind bars, each facing charges of murder and child endangerment.
Their bond for these counts has been set at $1 million, with an additional $100,000 requirement for all three defendants, as the legal proceedings into the horrific death begin.
The Cincinnati Police Department and Hamilton County Coroner’s Office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
The Hamilton County Clerks Office did not immediately fulfill The Post’s request for court documentation.
