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RIP Cheyenne Yarley - 10 Months Old Beautiful Baby Girl
In closing arguments Tuesday, defense attorneys for Joshua Andrew Stepp, trying to keep an Iraq war veteran off death row, argued that his undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder ... combined with prescription painkillers and alcohol ... incapacitated him to the point that he was mentally incapable of planning and carrying out the alleged sexual assault and beating death of his 10-month-old stepdaughter.
Testifying on his behalf, Stepp admitted that he beat, shook and slammed Cheyenne into the carpet of their Raleigh apartment when she wouldn't stop crying. But he didn't know why he did it, he said.
Stepp said he grabbed toilet paper after changing Cheyenne's diaper three or four times, and dampened it under a bathroom faucet. Then he went to the bedroom where the girl continued to cry. "I went back in the room and just shoved the toilet paper in her mouth," Stepp said. "I thought maybe she'd be quiet." (goodness gracious what happens to wet toilet paper!!!)
But she started choking, he said. "I remember trying to pry her mouth open," he said. He described stuffing his fingers into her tiny mouth, knuckle deep, trying to retrieve the toilet paper. He swished his fingers around, he said, but finally was able to pull out a big clump of paper. She was breathing very shallowly. Then, she gasped and her body seized up.
Closing arguments continue today followed by jury instruction from the judge.
As we have all seen recently the death penalty is on the table, along with all the other possibilities.
Not buying that line of bulllion cubes....he could have left the house, he could have said he did not feel well enough to take care of the baby, he could have left her in the crib, he could have called ANYONE...I have known lots of people with PTSD, they don't kill their kid. He choose to take drugs, and drink alcohol, rather than get help for his addiction. And again, this is a step father...when will women stop being with men who kill their kids? The Mother should be on trial as well.
Last edited by jasper12; 09-07-2011 at 10:31 PM..
Reason: edit
Not buying that line of bulllion cubes....he could have left the house, he could have said he did not feel well enough to take care of the baby, he could have left her in the crib, he could have called ANYONE...I have known lots of people with PTSD, they don't kill their kid. He choose to take drugs, and drink alcohol, rather than get help for his addiction. And again, this is a step father...when will women stop being with men who kill their kids? The Mother should be on trial as well.
I read somewhere that the odds of a child being abused go up 40 fold when mom starts dating.
I believe that, but I also believe that single women can date responsibly. I dated, and the men I dated were nice guys. Not any of them abused my kids. But there are men out there, who prey on women with children, or women who are so dependent, that they will stay with a man, no matter what the cost.
I believe that, but I also believe that single women can date responsibly. I dated, and the men I dated were nice guys. Not any of them abused my kids. But there are men out there, who prey on women with children, or women who are so dependent, that they will stay with a man, no matter what the cost.
Sad.
You were lucky. There are pedophiles who are very good at acting the part of suitor to mom to gain access to the kids. And then there's the simple fact that a new man in mom's life simply has no history or bonding to mom's children.
Jury deliberations tomorrow on the sentencing. He could get the death penalty or life in prison. I look for life in prison since he is a veteran but who knows ... I screwed up my predictions on the Anthony verdict. My crystal ball ain't working no more.
Not buying that line of bulllion cubes....he could have left the house, he could have said he did not feel well enough to take care of the baby, he could have left her in the crib, he could have called ANYONE...I have known lots of people with PTSD, they don't kill their kid. He choose to take drugs, and drink alcohol, rather than get help for his addiction. And again, this is a step father...when will women stop being with men who kill their kids? The Mother should be on trial as well.
jasper12, I can't rep you again but, I agree with the above. I have seen too many of these deaths and the excuses that are put forth....
It's difficult, in today's world, to hand out the death penalty ... the jury came back just before 4 p.m. and said it had decided that Stepp should get life without parole.
But minutes later, after reviewing the paperwork, Superior Court Judge Osmond Smith said they were not unanimous on all four questions before them and sent them back for more deliberations.
The stumbling point seems to be whether there are so called "aggravating factors" that would call for the death penalty.
The judge told them to come back Tuesday for more deliberations.
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