'Baby Grace' Mother Is Pregnant Again

The mother of the Riley Ann Sawyers, the child who was known as "Baby Grace" after her body was found in a plastic container in Galveston Bay, is pregnant again and her trial has been postponed until after she gives birth. Meanwhile, Galveston prosecutors have come under criticism for not seeking the death penalty against Kimberly Dawn Trenor and her husband Royce Clyde Zeigler II.

During a pretrial hearing, State District Judge David Garner told 19-year-old Trenor that her trial would begin Nov. 3 so that she could give birth before. "The court is inclined to let you proceed to have your child and recover from your delivery," Garner said.

Trenor is expected to give birth around July 1.

The day before Trenor's hearing, during a pretrial hearing for Zeigler, Galveston County District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk said he had decided against the death penalty in the case against either defendant.

Decision Based on Court Ruling

Sistrunk said his decision was based on a 2007 Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruling that would make it difficult if not impossible to obtain a death penalty verdict that would stand up on appeal.

The ruling requires the jury to decide whether or not the defendant would be a future danger to society. That ruling came in a case of a Beaumont woman who was convicted of killing her infant son.

Trenor and Zeigler are charged with the death of two-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers who died July 25, 2007 as a result of repeated physical abuse. Her body was kept in a plastic storage bin for two months before the container was dumped into the bay. It washed up on an island and was found by a fisherman Oct. 29, 2007.

See Also:
Pregnancy of Baby Grace's Mom Decided Trial Date, Judge Says
D.A. Won't Seek Death Penalty in Baby Grace Case
'Baby Grace' Mom Is Pregnant Again

Background:
The Baby Grace Case

Forum:
Discuss the Baby Grace Case

^{Photo: Family Photo}