Cincinnati police charge three in death of 7-year-old boy

Three individuals are facing murder and child endangerment charges following the death of 7-year-old William Evans-Ellis in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. The victim, who was developmentally disabled, was discovered unresponsive and bound with duct tape in a closet on August 6.

Prosecutors and investigators described the case as one of the most disturbing instances of child abuse they have encountered. Evidence presented in court indicated the boy suffered repeated physical beatings, blunt-force trauma, burns, and suspected water torture. A detective testified that the injuries included impact wounds to the face, torso, and head.

The defendants include the boy's biological mother, Kaitlin Elizabeth Evans, 38, along with Kirby Rankin, 33, and Nessa Keaney, 23. Court proceedings revealed that the three adults were co-parenting the child in a polyamorous household. Rankin reportedly admitted to participating in the abuse and implicated both Evans and Keaney as active participants. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty, and bond has been set at $1 million for the murder charges.