Second 'Baby Grace' Trial Underway

The lawyer for a man accused of murdering 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers told jurors that his client dumped her body in Galveston Bay, but he didn't have anything to do with her death, as his murder trial began. Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 26, is charged with capital murder but will not face the death penalty if convicted.

Riley Ann was known as "Baby Grace" until relatives identified her after her body was found in a plastic storage tub on the banks of the bay.

"He put her in a trash bag and in another container and put it in the bay," defense attorney Neal Davis III told jurors during opening statements. "There is not one iota of evidence that Royce Zeigler knowingly, intentionally or in any way caused the death of Riley Sawyers," Davis said. "He is not only not guilty, he is innocent."

Prosecutors tell a different story. Galveston County prosecutor Kayla Allen outlined a series of lies that Zeigler and his wife, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 21, told family members, co-workers and the police after Riley Ann died. Trenor was found guilty in a February trial and was sentenced to life in prison.

Lied to Everyone

"Royce Clyde Zeigler and Kimberly lied to everyone they could lie to," Allen said. "They lied to their family, co-workers and police over and over."

After she was arrested, Trenor told investigators in a videotaped statement that Zeigler stayed home from work July 25, 2007, to help discipline Riley Ann (left). She admitted she and Zeigler beat Riley with a belt, held her head under bath water and smothered her with a pillow.

Prosecutors said the threw the toddler across the room onto a tile floor, fracturing her skull.

"You'll see at the end of the trial Royce Zeigler is full of nothing but lies, and that he and his wife murdered Riley Ann Sawyers," Allen said.

See Also:
'Baby Grace' Stepdad Dumped Girl's Body But Didn't Kill Her

Background:
The Baby Grace Case

Forum:
Discuss the Baby Grace Case

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