Mother Found Guilty of 'Baby Grace' Murder

A Texas jury deliberated less than two hours before returning a guilty of capital murder verdict for the mother of the 2-year-old once known only as "Baby Grace." Kimberly Trenor was convicted of the death of Riley Ann Sawyers, whose body was found stuffed in a storage tub that washed up on the shores of Galveston Bay.

Trenor received an automatic life without the possibility of parole sentence.

"Justice has been served today. Today it's about Riley," Galveston County District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk told reporters.

Prosecutors said Riley died when Trenor and her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler II, punished her for forgetting to say "please" and "yes, sir." They beat the child with belts, held her head under water and threw her across the room on a tile floor, fracturing her skull.

'Cut and Dried' Case

After putting Riley's body in a plastic storage tub, they kept it in a storage shed for two months before putting it in Galveston Bay.

The jury saw the case as "pretty cut and dried," according to the foreman.

"It's an emotional trial because of the victim," Randall Rothschild said. "That was hard to set aside (emotions) and stick to the facts. But we did and justice is served."

Zeigler's capital murder trial has not yet been scheduled. Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty against either Trenor or Zeigler.

See Also:
Texas Mother Convicted in 2-Year-Old Girl's Death

Background:
The Baby Grace Case

Forum:
Discuss the Baby Grace Case

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