"Baby Grace" May Have Been Beaten To Death

Riley Ann Sawyers Had Skull Fractures; Girl, 2, Reportedly Abused By Mother And Stepfather

(CBS/AP)  Investigators think they have some of the answers they have been looking for ever since a little girl's body was found in Galveston Bay, washed ashore in a blue plastic bin. They are a grim reward.

According to court documents, the mother of 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers told police she and her husband beat the girl with two leather belts and held her head underwater in a bathtub in July. Riley's stepfather then threw her across the room, slamming her head onto a tile floor.

Kimberly Dawn Trenor, who had moved her daughter this year from suburban Cleveland to Texas, said in her statement to police that the couple bought the plastic bin and placed the girl's body inside it that evening.

The bin stayed hidden in a storage shed for one to two months, until the couple traveled 75 miles south from their home in the Houston suburb of Spring to Galveston Bay, where the body was dumped.

A fisherman found the bin Oct. 29, and authorities spent weeks sifting through thousands of leads as they worked to identify the girl they dubbed "Baby Grace." DNA results are pending, but there seems little doubt that the child is Riley.

"It was a few weeks ago I held up this little shoe and asked, 'Who is Baby Grace? Who does this belong to?"' sheriff's Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo said at a news conference Monday. "We're now fairly confident we know the answer to that."

Roughly four months ago, Riley went missing, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

Trenor, 19, and her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler II, were arrested early Saturday and are in custody on charges of hurting Riley. The investigation continues.

Zeigler, 24, attempted suicide last week and wrote a note saying, "My wife is innocent of the sins that I committed," according to the court documents, which were filed Saturday and first reported Monday by Houston television station KTRK.

An autopsy revealed that Riley suffered three skull fractures, but the cause of death has not been determined.

Riley's paternal grandmother, Sheryl Sawyers of Mentor, Ohio, hadn't seen her granddaughter in months when she saw a police sketch of "Baby Grace." Thinking it might be Riley, she called authorities in Texas.

Sawyers wiped away tears at a news conference Monday in Mentor. She held up the Elmo doll she had already bought Riley for Christmas and a studio photograph of her granddaughter wearing angel wings.

"It's hard to think that I'll never see her again," she said.

In her statement to police, which was included in an arrest affidavit, Trenor said that after her daughter was killed, Zeigler had her forge a document that the Ohio Department of Children's Services had taken Riley away because of allegations of sexual abuse.

Tuttoilmondo said Trenor had told relatives that someone claiming to be a social worker from Ohio, where Riley's father lives, took the girl in July.

"It didn't make any sense," said Sheryl Sawyers. "None of it made sense."

Trenor's attorney, Tom Stickler, said she has cooperated with authorities. He declined to comment directly about her statement to investigators.

"But from what she said, there is no doubt that the girl found is Riley Sawyers," Stickler said.

Trenor and Zeigler were charged with injury to a child and tampering with evidence, Tuttoilmondo said. Bail was set at $350,000 each. The couple's next court appearance was expected to be scheduled on Tuesday.

Wendell Odom, Zeigler's attorney, declined to comment on the case except to say Zeigler grew up in Spring, about 75 miles north of Galveston, and works as an instrument technician in the oil industry.

Trenor and Zeigler met a couple of years ago playing an online game, World of Warcraft, and she moved with her daughter from suburban Cleveland to Spring in June, Stickler said.

The Sawyers family's attorney, Laura DePledge, said they take comfort in knowing that the girl is "resting peacefully and is no longer subject to abuse."

DePledge said Trenor and Sawyers' son, Robert Sawyers, also of Mentor, had been high school sweethearts. Sheryl Sawyers said she has not seen Riley since the girl and Trenor moved to Texas.

Robert Sawyers, who works in an auto-parts store, was never married to Trenor but lived with her and their daughter in his parents' home for about two years. He and Trenor split up after March 31, when he was charged with domestic violence against her.

DePledge said there was insufficient evidence to support the charge, which was reduced to disorderly conduct. Robert Sawyers is now married and has a 3-month-old son.

Riley "had a very big imagination for such a little girl," he said of his daughter. "She could play with anything and have fun with it."

Tuttoilmondo said investigators became emotionally involved in determining the little girl's identity.

"Any way you look at it, we carry a piece of her with us and will always carry a little piece of her with us," he said. "She's still our little girl."

[kevzgrl]

Afraid they wouldn''t want me on the jury for this one - there is no doubt in my mind where they need to go, and as fast as possible, too. Since this is Texas, where they have the death penalty and they USE IT - hopefully, it won''t be 25 years before they meet their Maker and account to Him for what they did to this poor little baby. Rest in Peace, Riley, with the angels.

[iceman_1960]

These two "parents" should get the death penalty.

Period.

[slim1h2o]

Texas WILL put these monsters to death. Poor kid

[guruknows]

Death with leathal injection for theses evils??? r u crazzy?.. that will be heaven for them....

Drill their bodies.... slowly... with regular flat head screw driver that has been heated red hot...for 10 minutes.... then wait for 4 hours and repeat the process again. Do this 3-4 times a day..... then give them 1 full day to think what they did.... then resume the drilling process again....

Do the above process untill they die.... You both monsters rotten in hell forever!!

MAY THE LITTLE GIRL BE WITH GOD AND ANGELS TO HAVE THE MOST PEACEFUL LOVING LIFE!!

This is actually what these *** monsters need

[geewilli]

That poor baby. My heart aches for her and I cant imagine the fear and pain she went through. These 2 monsters should be injected, But I would like to see them serve alot of time before it is administered.

I pray for Riley and her dad.

[iceman_1960]

"Trenor and Zeigler met a couple of years ago playing an online game, World of Warcraft..."

Probably did drugs together as well.

They need to be executed.

[iceman_1960]

"World of Warcraft" looks like a demonic "Dungeons and Dragons" role-playing type game.

[wolfear1]

Ok didnt_inhale can I get my pitchfork and torch back out? Again I would like to call for a Federal Death Penalty statute for killing a child under the age of 12.

[Krazcarl]

These folks need to be dragged out behind the barn and taken care of permently the way it was done in the old days

[ladyjaneg]

Fly away with the angel, sweet Riley, and be with the angels. I pray that she is far away, laughing and playing somewhere where she will never know pain and fear again.

[emtbmama]

I can only imagine the horror & fear this poor baby experienced during her last day on this earth. I certainly hope that Texas does take care of these 2 horrible monsters!! Although, it concerns me because they did spare Andrea Yates..... Rest in Peace baby Riley, you''re safe now with Jesus & the angels.

[gmond]

I can see it now - the confession will get thrown out for some *** reason and they will each plead not guilty and get separate trials.

[lburchett1]

This story breaks my heart. What was the "mother" thinking? How come she could not give this baby to her father or her grandmother - it is obvious that they love her. Both of these monsters should be tortured. I hope that the court system does its job and sees to it that these two pay for their sins. I hope that the angels took Riley away before she knew what was happening to her. May this beautiful little girl rest in peace.

[misands]

God bless that poor little girl. I hope they throw the book at these two pieces of gutter trash. Someone needs to pick them up by the hair and slam them into the floor head first like they did that baby girl.

[godseyesore-2009]

Put each of them in a vise and slowly squeeze them to death over hours. They don''t deserve anything better...like life in prison.

[lochlan-2009]

I have a hard time getting through these stories... If they need someone to flick the switch on these two, all they need to do is ask. I would prefer more justice but, we have to be civil now days.

I wish they could use the old ways on these two monsters, string them up and put a noose around there neck. Rest in peace baby Riley.

[sjhrlilbit07]

i believe in eye for an eye and everything that they did to her needs to be done to them to the tee.

[joannmb1]

Someone please spay and neuter these two before they reproduce again.

[susieq_13]

How awful. I hope those two that did that to her suffer a long painful death in prison where they belong. At least that child is in a safe place now. God rest her soul. No child or human being deserves to be treated like that.

[jetlizhan]

they are charged with ''injury to a child'' - how unbelievable is that? this is MURDER!!!

[ingie912]

''injury to child''?????? AND They set bail??????? What is WRONG with these people????????? This just turns my stomach!!!! SICK!!!

[tomnlorie02]

I think in this case a judge should rule that these two monsters deserve nothing less than to be punished just as they punished this baby girl.I know that Riley is now in a safe place and she will never feel pain again,but my heart breaks for her knowing what she must of went through.R.I.P. little one.

[abigail4476]

I think I''m going to throw up now. :-(

[ladyjaneg]

Injury to a child??? They KILLED her!! This is murder!!! Where is the justice in this?

[tomnlorie02]

She is no mother she is a monster and should be put to death like a monster would be.They dont deserve to be punished like humans,they did not treat Riley as a human so torture and kill them both.I just thank God that baby Riley is now in a safe place where she will never again feel any pain.r.I.P. lil angel girl

[ov442]

oh my god this just breaks my heart. That poor little sweet baby girl. How can two people do something like that to their angel daughter? I cant even imagine the greif the rest of that family must be going through right now, not only losing that precious sweetheart but to know their daughter was part of the beating and killing and lying.
those 2 people need to be put away for ever.
Anyone that ever does that to a precious child needs to be put away for life.
Please people stop hurting your children!!! before you ever strike out in anger, or frustration give your baby to someone else please!!!

[lucy-in-tx]

It makes no sense what these two have done. There is nothing either one could ever utter that would even come close to being comprehensible as to explaining the atrocity they have committed.
Beyond that... WHY? Why have a child in the first place if you really do not want one. Give the child to someone who desperately longs to have a baby and will love her without reservation and do NO harm to such a precious gift.
That said...
IMHO, these two deserve what the law will most likely not do... an eye for an eye; a life for a life. BUT some smarta** lawyer will most likely plead the two as temporarily insane or some other such BS and they will end up spending life in prison, but at least they will be LIVING... something that precious little Riley has been denied... by her own ''mother.''

[ladyjaneg]

It makes no sense what these two have done. There is nothing either one could ever utter that would even come close to being comprehensible as to explaining the atrocity they have committed.
Beyond that... WHY? Why have a child in the first place if you really do not want one. Give the child to someone who desperately longs to have a baby and will love her without reservation and do NO harm to such a precious gift.
That said...
IMHO, these two deserve what the law will most likely not do... an eye for an eye; a life for a life. BUT some smarta** lawyer will most likely plead the two as temporarily insane or some other such BS and they will end up spending life in prison, but at least they will be LIVING... something that precious little Riley has been denied... by her own ''''mother.''''



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Lucy-in-TX

I couldn''t have possibly said it better. :)

[ov442]

"It didn''t make any sense," said Sheryl Sawyers. "None of it made sense." ----

.. Of course it didnt make any sense, how could anyone make any sense of beating an innocent angelic child to death? especially youre own?

[aggiekat2004]

Does anybody see a link between an obvious issue with violence and the game "World of Warcraft?" If you''ve ever seen it...VERY violent.

[pdhlondon]

There is no place on the planet Earth that should be a safe haven for those who commited this crime. This is not about mental illness, difficult family lives or any other ''soft'' defense. These people are the purest possible definition of evil. They simply must be executed - - and quickly.

I''m normally against the death penalty, but there comes a time when we simply need to rid the world of people like this.

[lucy-in-tx]

An addendum to my previous comment:
I do not, nor will I ever, presume myself to be above the law, nor better than any other, nor to be a Judge of Man, but in this case, I would volunteer to be Judge, Jury, and... Executioner.

[hambonehd]

May that dear little child rest in peace.


And as for them, hang em from the highest tree. They deserve no mercy, no nothing. The sooner the evil is disposed of, the better.
How could anyone (other than the definition of evil) do things like that to a child?

[hambonehd]

I need to change that,
let these monsters loose to the public!
I will be there.

[hambonehd]

I would love to get my hands on him!

[caber4]

Why are these atrocities always being blamed on video games? I am a 60 year old professional woman who has played World of Warcraft. Can these games be addictive? Yes, very much so. Do they instill violence in adults? I dont see how, i understand the affect they can have on small kids, but how can a cartoon character cause adults to be violent. The answer to why people commit such atrocities has to go beyond playing a game. The media jumps on video games as a quick and easy answer, I believe the truth runs far deeper.

[guruknows]

IF THE JUDGE WHO HANDLES THIS CASE DOES NOT GIVE ELECTRIC CHAIR OR HANGING TO THESE MONSTER... THEN THAT JUDGE ALSO ROTTEN IN HELL FOR EVER AND HAVE HORRIBLE CANCER AND ALL KIND OF DESEASES....


IF I EVER HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THESE MONSTERS... I WILL EAT CHEW THEM ALIVE!!!! A BOILING ROTTEN HELL TO THESE EVILS!!!!

[ren1221]

What on earth would drive a parent to harm their child in that way? How can someone beat their child with a belt, hold them underwater and then watch their "spouse" throw them across the room? I agree with the aforementioned comments regarding having a child, and giving it up for adoption if the child is unwanted. But, admitting you are unable to care for a child, and putting them available for adoption takes a lot of bravery and selflessness. Something these two obviously never had. Put them in jail and hang the baby''s picture in their cell to where they can never take it down. They''ll have to face what they''ve done every day.

[lloric]

RIP little woman. I hope those two animals are sent to prison for a couple of years and left with the general population and get beaten on a regular basis.

How someone could do this to a 4 year old girl is beyond me. Burn in hell you sick animals.

[lloric]

Amend that... 2 year old. Just sick.

[scully152]

I read the article on another news site this morning and I went into the kitchen where my 3 kids were eating breakfast and gave them each a hug and kiss. I lost a child due to a misscarriage and I cannot fathom a parent allowing this to happen to any child, but especially not their own. I hope Riley rests in peace, wether or not she is Baby Grace. I sincerely hope they meant what they said about investigating the 22 missing girl cases they came upon while searching for Baby Grace (per the previously mentioned article on another news site). Every family deserves closure and every person deserves a proper burial. I have seen posts here where people say give me one minute with them or things like hang them from the highest tree. What makes those people (who are so quick to say violent things about violent people) any better than the ones they speak about? I hope Baby Grace/ Riley receive justice. I hope that the people who did this get the punishment that best fits the crime, wether that be life with no parole or the death penalty. It os nt for me, or any of us, to decide what that punishment should be.

[rukindr]

The charge is currently injuring a child because they haven''t proven the cause of death yet. Once they have, the charges will change and I would like to imagine bail will be denied. Fortunately this case is in Texas where they have no problem in eliminating "people" like these. To do that to a child is incomprehensible and evil. Anyone who says video games is the cause obviously isn''t thinking that that could be a defense for their actions and get them out of the death penalty or possible life in jail. These people acted out of selfishness and evil. It''s unfortunate they''ll be able to decide how they die, personally I would approve of a method similar to the poor child''s fate. Emotional and physical abuse that will sooner or later (hopefully later) end in death.

[tjdesocio]

when the **** is someone going to start some renegade group that kills pedophiles and child murderers? i''m sure the law would not try too hard to find such a group. i still have small children and wouldn''t risk jail, but i would be only too happy to contribute to such a group. we can''t rely on our "justice" system so somebody needs to grab their b***s and do the job for all these horribly violated innocent children. PLEASE

[beehive21-2009]

May, the CBS news is on a fishing trip May does not mean did,this is how the News attempts to make you think as they wish.

[rablady]

I want to keep it as easy as possible for all unfit people like these murderers to avoid being parents. I wish the mother (who was probably 16) and father had used protection... or the mother had used a morning after pill..or that she''d gotten an abortion...that some step would have been taken to prevent her from bearing this child she was not fit to care for. To me nothing is worse than monsters like these becoming parents and horribly abusing innocent children.

[horse3farm]

Why do we treat immoral criminals with morality? Kill them the same way they killed their victims. And after such confession, why are they not charged with murder today? These people do not deserve to be a part of society. They deserve death. Period.

[rablady]

I found this an interesting fact from the American Journal of Psychiatry:
"Maternal filicide, or child murder by mothers, occurs more frequently in the United States than in other developed nations."

[ladyephesus1]

Dear Riley,

Last night I sat in my room before bedtime and I cried for you. How could such a beautiful little girl be tormented by her own mother and father?
You are so beautiful, so sweet and so innocent.
The world loves you Riley. I wish I had known you before you left this earth. I would have given you cookies and milk and a precious flower.A barbie doll to play with. A smile to match your own.
The hugs and love that you so deserved in life.
You will now have unconditional love from a big man
above the white clouds and you will have wings.
He has wiped your tears and placed a permanent smile on your pretty face.
You are now an angel for all children here on earth.
You are very special to many children that need you to comfort them in their times of pain.
YOu have increased awareness for child abuse.
You have touched many peoples lives here on earth.
As you look down at your mother and father, they must live with themselves in knowing what they have done to hurt you. Pray for them. They need prayer.

I love you

[ladyephesus1]

Hide in the bathroom? for what? Bad people?
This is not right. She needs to be investigated for that. Id call CPS just because.
My son told me about his babysitter neglected and abusing one of the children in her care and I reported it and eventually she harmed that little boy real bad. I cried all night over it.