Crystal Stephens, 42, of Las Vegas, Nevada, is facing the death penalty in the brutal torture death of a four-year-old autistic boy left in her care last summer
A woman indicted on 27 charges in the brutal torture death a four-year-old autistic boy last July could face the death penalty.
Prosecutors announced Thursday that they will pursue capital punishment against Crystal Stephens, 42, of Las Vegas, Nevada, after Brandon Steckler Jr. was found with a litany of injuries and wounds in her home last year before dying at the hospital, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
If convicted and sentenced, Stephens would be the only woman on Nevada's death row, according to Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Bluth.
Along with the capital murder charge, Stephens has also been charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping, one count of sexual assault on a minor and 24 counts of child abuse, neglect or endangerment.
Even months after the nonverbal Brandon Jr. was left in the care of family friend Stephens the medical examiner has not determined the exact cause of death because his injuries were so numerous, according to the prosecutor.
The boy was with Stephens, who the mom Ariel Watts claims refused to return him, for three weeks before his death.
The medical examiner's grand jury transcript stated that it was 'fair to say that pretty much every inch of this child had some type of injury,' according to KLAS.
Ariel Watts (left) left her son Brandon Steckler Jr. (right) along with his sister in the care of Crystal Stephens while she was allegedly in a domestic violence shelter. Brandon would be dead weeks later
Brandon Steckler Jr. seen in an earlier photo, was so severely injured, the medical examiner's office has yet to determine an exact cause of death
Photographs and the transcript paint the graphic picture of what happened to Steckler Jr.: Bruises, burns, injuries (including burns) inside the mouth and on the arms, 27 rib fractures and trauma to his private parts.
Meth was found in the boy's system and he suffered from a broken collarbone, a lacerated liver, a collapsed lung, malnutrition, sepsis and pneumonia.
'I didn't even know it was the same child,' said DA Bluth. 'I was blown away.'
Stephens allegedly told police that Brandon and his sister had been with her for the two weeks while Brandon's mother was living in a domestic violence shelter.
Crystal Stephens, seen here, who was caring for Brandon Steckler Jr. and his sister, is charged with capital murder, one count of first-degree kidnapping, one count of sexual assault on a minor and 24 counts of child abuse, neglect or endangerment
Brandon Rico Steckler, shown, was the father of Brandon Steckler Jr. He raised money along with his fellow Naval veterans for his son's burial in August, but had no comment on the case
The prosecutor's office says it does not intend to charge Watts because it is believed she was unaware the child was being harmed. According to the mother, she only learned Brandon was in the hospital from an email sent by Child Protective Services.
The father, Brandon Steckler, held a fundraiser with fellow veterans for his son's burial last August, where the Navy veteran told the Review-Journal that his late son loved professional wrestling.
'He would jump off the back of the couch and hit you with (an) elbow drop that 'Macho Man' Randy Savage himself would be proud of,' Steckler said.
However, he would not comment on the case itself on the advice of his lawyer, and it is unclear what the custody situation was between Steckler Sr. and Watts when their son died.
'No parent, no father, expects to bury their child,' the grieving father did say.
Brandon Sr. here with Brandon Jr. said his son would watch professional wrestling with him
The district attorney declined to charge Ariel Watts believing she was unaware of the harm that was befalling her son at the time
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/16/da-seeks-death-penalty-for-woman-42-accused-of-torturing-killing-four-year-old-autistic-boy/
Main photo article
Crystal Stephens, 42, of Las Vegas, Nevada, is facing the death penalty in the brutal torture death of a four-year-old autistic boy left in her care last summer
A woman indicted on 27 charges in the brutal torture death a four-year-old autistic boy last July could face the death...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/03/15/22/11054690-6815271-image-a-2_1552688722622.jpg
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