Custodial dad--with long criminal history--charged in 2009 death of 13-year-old son; boy was buried in concrete and not found for two years (Gary, Indiana)

Ah, Indiana. Home of white supremacist fathers rights.

Notice that it is claimed here that the mother of the murdered boy gave up custody willingly. Perhaps she did. But I always take these claims with a grain of salt, especially when the Daddy in question, RILEY CHOATE, had a long criminal history and is now facing homicide charges. Just how truly "voluntary" are your dealings with such a man? My guess: not very. Especially in a state which is increasingly famous for trashing mothers and stripping them of their rights.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/05/05/2011-05-05_riley_choate_father_of_13yearold_boy_found_buried_in_concrete_charged_in_sons_de.html?r=news

Riley Choate, father of 13-year-old boy found buried in concrete, charged in son's death
By Nina Mandell
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, May 5th 2011, 6:29 PM

Christian Choate was found buried in concrete two years after his death.

The father of a 13-year-old Indiana boy found buried in a shallow grave was charged in his son's death Thursday after he admitted burying him there.

Riley Choate told police he wrapped his son, Christian Choate, in a blanket, placed a Bible on him and buried him under concrete in a mobile park home in Gary, Ind., in April 2009, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Choate, 28, was charged with removal of a body from a death scene, failing to notify authorities of a death and failure to report a body to authorities.

The child's former stepmother, Kim Choate, was being held on larceny warrants, the newspaper said.

The Sun-Times reported that an autopsy showed Christopher died from "sustained blunt force trauma to his body with internal bleeding and a skull fracture." His death has been ruled a homicide.

Authorities were shocked that no one noticed the child missing for so long.

"He just fell through the cracks, unfortunately," Lake County Sheriff John Buncich told the Chicago Tribune. "How can a child just disappear and no one follow up?"

Police said the investigation began when relatives told Christian's biological mother the boy had been buried in the mobile home park and called police.

She gave up custody of Christian and his sister six years ago because she didn't want to raise them, the Tribune said.

The boy was never reported missing. Neighbors told local television station WLS the Choate family moved away two years ago.

"He was a very good child and I mean, I feel very, very bad and upset over what happened to him," a family friend told WLS.

Choate had a criminal record of charges including battery, auto theft and harassment. He was arrested at his girlfriend's house, the Chicago Tribune reported.