Dad charged with first-degree murder in death of 18-month-old daughter (Wichita, Kansas)

According to the girlfriend, babysitting dad JONELL LLOYD was apparently in the habit of "spanking" and "choking" his 18-month-old daughter for things like wetting her diaper (Imagine that. A toddler who still wets a diaper now and then. But this is a common theme--abusive fathers flipping out over dirty diapers and potty-training.) Horribly, the little girl may still have been alive when Daddy stuffed her into trash bags and dumped her in the attic. The little girl was staying with Dad and his girlfriend while Mom was having minor surgery. Dad is no stranger to violence--he shot the girlfriend in the foot in 2007.

http://www.kansas.com/news/crime-courts/story/873375.html

Father on trial today in toddler's death
Jonell Lloyd is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his 18-month-old daughter, whose body was found in his attic.

BY Ron Sylvester
The Wichita Eagle

Chavira Brown may still have been alive when the 18-month-old was stuffed into trash bags and put in the attic.

That's what medical examiners determined during an autopsy last year.

Today, the toddler's father, Jonell Lloyd goes on trial accused of first-degree murder.

Testimony is expected to begin at 9 a.m. in front of Sedgwick County District Judge Jeff Goering. Lawyers spent Monday questioning and selecting people to serve on the jury.

Prosecutors say Chavira died as a result of child abuse.

A crime-scene investigator found the toddler's body on Aug. 1, 2008, in the attic of the house where Lloyd lived at 15th and Green.

The child was wrapped in three plastic bags and zipped inside a couch cushion cover.

Lloyd had been baby-sitting Chavira at the home he shared with his girlfriend and his other child.

The girlfriend, Temeika Loudermilk, testified in a preliminary hearing last fall that she saw Lloyd spank and choke Chavira for wetting her diaper.

Lloyd also fathered Loudermilk's son, who was 10 months old at the time.

Jessica Jackson, Chavira's mother, said Lloyd told her he'd lost the girl at the park. Jackson previously testified she left the child with Lloyd while she had minor surgery.

Lloyd, meanwhile, had been wanted by police for not returning to a residential center nine months earlier, where he was serving part of his probation on a conviction of aggravated battery.
In that case, Lloyd had shot Loudermilk in the foot in January 2007.

The trial is expected to last through the end of the week.