Custodial dad, step found guilty of felony murder, torture, 1st degree child abuse in death of 3-year-old daughter (St. Clair County, Michigan)

We've been following this case since it first broke. Custodial dad JOE GALVAN and the new step have now been found guilty of felony murder, torture, and 1st-degree child abuse in the death of the 3-year-old daughter. Earlier postings on this case have discussed Dad's previous history of domestic violence and child abuse. For example, see the mother's testimony here:

http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/06/mom-testifies-at-murder-trial-of.html

But it didn't matter to the authorities who gave custody to Daddy anyway.

http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20100708/NEWS01/7080306/Galvans-guilty

Galvans guilty
Sentencing will be Aug. 6

By LIZ SHEPARD
Times Herald
• July 8, 2010

Tears streamed down Cassie Lovett's face as each guilty verdict was called off by the jury foreman.

"My heart just stopped," Lovett said Wednesday morning after the verdict was delivered in the trial of Joe and Jennifer Galvan. "I started shaking, I was so excited."

A jury found Joe and Jennifer Galvan guilty of felony murder, torture, first-degree child abuse and possession of marijuana in connection to the Jan. 15 death of Prhaze Galvan.

Joe Galvan, 26, was the 3-year-old's father; Jennifer Galvan, 29, was her stepmother. Lovett was Prhaze's biological mother.

Dozens of people filled Circuit Judge Daniel Kelly's courtroom as the verdict was read.

Several deputies surrounded the Galvans during the hearing and escorted them out of the building before anyone else was allowed to leave the courtroom.

Along with family members and friends, the courtroom was dotted with courthouse personnel and officials, including Prosecutor Mike Wendling and Medical Examiner Daniel Spitz.

The courtroom was quiet as the foreman said the jury had come to a unanimous decision. The quiet was punctuated with sudden intakes of breath and muffled cries as each guilty verdict was read.

Lovett said the verdict will allow her daughter to rest in peace.

She said the verdict offered some closure, but the pain will not fade quickly.

"It's going to take time, lots of time," Lovett said, wiping away tears.

Mary Myers hugged Lovett as they stood outside the St. Clair County Courthouse.

"Justice has been served," she said.

Myers, Prhaze's maternal great-grandmother, said the family is continuing to grieve for the little girl.

"Nothing is going to take (the pain) away," she said.

The jury delivered its verdict after sitting through about three weeks of testimony and lawyer arguments.

St. Clair County Sheriff Detective Steve Amey said it was one of the most difficult cases he has handled.

"I'm happy that Prhaze got her day in court," he said.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Keyes said she was relieved after the verdict was delivered.

She said the jury had a difficult job listening to the case, which included graphic autopsy photos of Prhaze's bruise-covered body and testimony describing a life of physical and emotional abuse. Officials testified during the trial that the girl died of blunt-force trauma to her head.

"Most human beings don't think about this side of life," Keyes said.

Wendling said he was proud of his staff and the sheriff's department for the work that went into the case.

"It's a tragic, tragic loss, and it's unfortunately an example of child abuse in our community that goes unnoticed or unreported. ... Two people in prison for the rest of their lives is not going to bring this little child back," he said.

The Kimball Township couple will be sentenced at 9 a.m. Aug. 6.