Disturbing: Mother and Two Transgender Partners Face Murder Charges

Authorities in Cincinnati have charged 38-year-old Kaitlin Evans along with her two live-in partners in connection with the death of her seven-year-old son, William Evans. The boy, who had disabilities, was found dead inside a closet in the family’s home on Madison Road in the Oakley neighborhood last week.

Police say the child’s body had been duct-taped and left in that confined space. Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco later described arriving at the scene and opening the closet door. Despite preparing herself with what she called “emotional armor,” she said she “just froze for a while.”

An autopsy completed this week determined the cause of death was blunt trauma to the head. The medical examiner reported a skull so severely fractured that bone had separated, along with “too many bruises to count” across the face, torso, back, and extremities.

Detective Kyle Smith, a 21-year homicide investigator, testified in court that the injuries ranked among the most disturbing examples of child abuse he had ever seen. He described physical beatings from striking devices, evidence of burns, and waterboarding-style torture before the boy was placed in the closet.

Evans and her partners, 23-year-old Nessa Keaney and 33-year-old Kirby Rankin, were arrested last week and face murder and child-endangerment charges. Prosecutors told the court the three lived together as lovers and roommates and had been co-parenting the child. Bond for each was set at $1 million.

The boy’s father, who was not charged, appeared in court and addressed Evans directly while visibly emotional. “Willie was my life. I trusted you to care for him,” he said. He added that the group had kept the child from him for the past nine months “over lies.”

Defense attorney Brandon Fox, representing the mother, indicated the state’s theory may center on her failure to intervene. He suggested evidence would show one of the other defendants “caused the death of this child.”

Investigators continue searching for a possible weapon. Sexual abuse has not been ruled out. Court videos of the suspects’ appearances and the coroner’s account have circulated widely online, drawing renewed attention to the case as it moves forward.

The three remain in custody while the investigation continues.