Two-Year-Old Aveion Lewis' Mother and Step-Father Charged in His Murder
Photo: Aveion Lewis.
A grand jury in Roanoke, Va. indicted Morgan Lockett and her husband, Brandon, Monday, with second-degree murder, child neglect and cruelty.
Morgan Lockett surrendered at the Roanoke Police Department after the indictment and was jailed without bond at the Roanoke City Jail, where her husband has been locked up since January on charges of improper disposal of a body, child neglect and obstructing justice, according to the Roanoke Times.
Photo: Morgan and Brandon Lockett were charged Feb. 1 with Aveion Lewis' murder.
Brandon Lockett initially told police that masked men broke into the couple's home, bound his 4-year-old daughter and knocked him unconscious. He said that when he woke up Aveion was gone. Police now say there was no abduction.
Two weeks later Aveion's body was found in an area landfill, after Brandon Lockett told police Aveion was dead.
But Morgan Lockett's sister says she and her family believe Morgan Lockett is guilty of nothing more than a bad choice in men. Cara Ward, Aveion's aunt, told CBS affiliate WDBJ her sister has cooperated with police from the beginning.
"She should have maybe caught warning signs, but I know she didn't directly kill her child, maybe indirectly by being with him," Ward told the station.
Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell told the Roanoke Times that "evidence will show both parents knew" about Aveion's mistreatment.
The indictment says that Morgan Lockett caused or allowed Aveion "to be tortured, tormented, mutilated, beaten or cruelly treated" and failed to provide "necessary care for the child's health" since Jan. 27, 2007 -- the day after the child was born.
The indictments don't say the cause of Aveion's death, and Caldwell wouldn't elaborate.
MORE ON CRIMESIDER
February 5, 2010 - Aveion Lewis Body Found in Landfill; 2-Year-Old's Stepfather Charged, Abduction Story Called Hoax
January 21, 2010 - Aveion Lewis, "Kidnapped" Toddler, Now Presumed Dead; Stepdad Charged as Police Search for Body
January 15, 2010 - Amber Alert: Aveion Malik Lewis, 2, Stolen During Home Invasion; Kidnappers Left Ransom Note