The mother of the 2-year-old girl known as "Baby Grace" has pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence in the case but will face trial for capital murder next week. Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 20, is charged with murder in the death of Riley Ann Sawyers on July 25, 2007.Also charged in the case is Trenor's husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler, 25.
A pool of 150 jurors will return to Galveston County court next week for the murder trial. If convicted, Trenor would receive an automatic sentence of life without parole. Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty in the case.
Body Found in Galveston Bay
Trenor faces from two to 20 years for the tampering with evidence charge. Judge David Garner granted a prosecution request that the jury not decide the sentencing on the tampering charge.
Prosecutors say that on July 25, 2007, Riley was killed in the couple's home near Houston after she was disciplined by Zeigler and Trenor. They hid her body in a storage shed for two months before putting it into Galveston Bay. A fisherman found it inside a storage bin on the shores of the bay.
Police distributed sketches of the little girl, known as "Baby Grace," to help identify her. She was identified by Sheryl Sawyers, Riley's paternal grandmother, who will testify at Trenor's trial.
A trial date has not been set for Zeigler.
See Also:
Mother of Baby Found Dead in Texas Bay Enters Plea
Background:
The Baby Grace Case
Forum:
Discuss the Baby Grace Case
Photo: Mug Shot
Comments
I pray to God that they both rot in hell for what they have done. I have an 8 year old son who i love dearly, and i can’t beleive that a mother is able to do this to an innocent child…The child was 2 years old! She never had a chance to live…it just really saddens me. I feel that the parents should automatically be sentenced to death for what they have done, why waste our tax dollars by putting them in prison…that is not enough for what they did. Justice needs to be served!