People v. Prater CA3

FACTS AND HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS

Defendant and Z. moved in with Caldwell about two months before the child’s death. Z. was five years old. Defendant also had two older sons, who did not live there. Caldwell had partial custody of three of his own children, a 10-year-old son and two older daughters, who were 12 and 14 years old, respectively. Caldwell severely beat Z., both with his hands and with various objects, including a leather belt, a switch, and a fire stoker. During defendant’s interview at the sheriff’s station, she explained that Caldwell did so because Z. “was taking his stuff and hiding it.” Defendant said she thought Z. was “just calling out for attention,” and that he was hiding Caldwell’s belongings because he was jealous of Caldwell and did not want them to be together. Defendant admitted, however, that Z. said he wanted them to leave Caldwell’s house “because [Caldwell] spanked him.” These were not mere spankings. They concerned Caldwell’s oldest daughter enough for her to tell defendant that she needed to stop her father from beating Z. Photos taken following Z.’s death showed extensive bruising covering the boy’s body, confirming the extent of the…