It didn't start with Josh Powell: Dads who kill the kids in situations involving custody/visitation/child support (USA)

Contrary to some media suggestions, JOSH POWELL is not the “exception” and is far from the first father to murder his children in a situation involving child custody and/or visitation. There are many, MANY other abusive/controlling fathers who have done the same. And still these fathers—who often have documented histories of criminal behavior—have continued to get unfettered access to their kids on demand through the courts.

That’s why I started the Killer Dad (USA) list.

This is NOT a comprehensive list of all U.S. fathers who have killed their children in situations involving domestic violence and/or child abuse. This list is limited to articles I have found where there is an identifiable child custody, visitation, and/or child support angle in the children's deaths. Even then, I can’t claim that this is a comprehensive list of child custody, visitation, and or child-support- related murders. Quite often, newspaper articles just don’t provide enough information to make a judgment call.

There is no time limit to the actual dates of death on this list, though most are comparatively recent— usually (but not always) with an article on the deaths appearing in the last four years or so. (Often it takes years for charges to get filed in these cases, or for cases to go to trial.) Note that there are several cases going back to the 1990s.

In the past, many have asked which cases specifically involve a family court which ignored the concerns of a protective mother or involved notable police, court, and/or CPS incompetence/corruption, I have marked some of the more egregious cases of that type with an asterisk. Of course, the criterion is somewhat subjective, and is also based on having enough media coverage to discern whether these factors were present. Once again, that doesn’t mean that other cases on this list didn’t involve those factors. Only that I have insufficient information at this time.

Additional information can be found on all these cases by searching the Dastardly Dads site.

Killer Dads: Fathers who ended their children's lives in situations involving child custody, visitation, and/or child support (USA)

ALABAMA

Franklin County

Father: PAUL GONZALEZ
Victim(s): Andrea Gonzalez (5 years)
Date of Death: Reported missing in November 1993. Body never recovered.
Custodial father eventually pleads guilty to manslaughter. Stepmother charged with child abuse.

Jefferson County

Father: CORY RICE
Victim(s): Janiya Nicole Hale (1 year)
Date of Death: July 2009
Father, a registered sex offender, is charged with murder. Daughter died during overnight visitation.

Mobile County

Father: JOHN DEBLASE
Victim(s): Natalie Deblase (4 years), Chase Deblase (3 years)
Date of Death: Unclear. Bodies located in December 2010 after children hadn’t been seen for months.
Father was apparently custodial at the time of children’s deaths. Both father, girlfriend are charged with murder.

Montgomery County

Father: ALVIN JOHNSON
Victim(s): Chad (C.J.) Johnson (3 years)
Date of Death: May 2008
Father had been in “custody battle” with mother, and had secured custody just two months before the boy’s murder. Father on trial in November 2010.

Morgan County

Father: GARY LEE WILBOURN
Victim(s): Amy Jean Wilbourn (infant)
Date of Death: December 2008
Father with either “temporary” or “permanent” custody of infant daughter charged with capital murder. In October 2010, father pleaded not guilty, with trial scheduled for August 2011.

ARIZONA

Cococino County

*Father: RYAN PETERS
Victim(s): Teigan Peters (aka Teigan Brown) (3 years)
Date of Death: June 2009
Daughter killed in murder-suicide during court-ordered visitation . Mother had applied for orders of protection.

Maricopa County

Father: ALLEN CHAMBERS
Victim(s): Mindi Chambers (17 years)
Date of Death: Assumed to have been murdered around the time she went missing in 1982.
Custodial father ALLEN CHAMBERS is now presumed to have murdered Mindi Chambers around the time she went missing. Daughter had reported sexual abuse to the authorities. Not reported as officially missing till 1995.

Father: JEFFREY DUCHANE
Victim(s): Trenay Duchane (12 years)
Date of Death: November 2008
Custodial father and stepmother convicted of murder.

Father: RAUL MOLINA GONZALEZ
Victim(s): Anthony Gonzalez (11 years)
Date of Death: Summer 2005
Father convicted of murdering son during summer visitation.

*Father: NUSHAWN CAMPBELL
Victim(s): Unnamed son (5 years)
Date of Death: June 2009
Father with sole custody stabs son to death in failed murder-suicide. Mother had been trying to regain custody. In October 2010, father pleaded guilty to 1st-degree murder.

Father: ANDRE LETEVE
Victim(s): Alec Leteve (5 years), Asher Leteve (1 year)
Date of Death: March 2010
Parents in process of getting divorce, but had agreed to joint custody. Sons shot to death in failed murder-suicide. Father apparently "feared" mother would attempt a move away.

Father: SERGIO THOMAS
Victim(s): 7-month-old daughter
Date of Death: December 2010
Father arrested for death of 7-month-old daughter. Parents had “verbal custody agreement” to share children on weekly basis. Dad had history of domestic violence arrests.

Pima County

*Father: CHRISTOPHER PAINE
Victim(s): Ariana Paine (3 years), Tyler Paine (4 years)
Date of Death: 2006
Mother originally got custody in 2003. In January 2006, father asked for informal visitation, which the mother granted. In March, the father refused to return the children. The mother contacted the Tucson police regarding her custody order, and they refused to retrieve the children. Within months the children are dead (exact date unknown, only one body was found). Mother sued City of Tucson CPS, and they settled for $1 million in June 2008. In October 2010, Judge Carmine Cornello dismissed mother’s suit against the police.

CALIFORNIA

Contra Costa County

Father: ERHAN KAYIK
Victim(s): Volkan Kayik (16 years)
Date of Death: July 2007
Custodial father found guilty in 2009 of strangulation death of son.

El Dorado County

Father: DAVID ELIOTT
Victim(s): Chandler Nash-Eliott (11 years)
Date of Death: December 2009
Father not charged in the "suicide" of son. Father had physical custody, parents had shared legal custody. Father had extensive history with CPS regarding neglect, abuse, lack of supervision, etc.

Los Angeles County

Father: DAVID HELMS
Victim(s): Lance Helms (2 1/2 years)
Date of Death: 1995
Custodial dad convicted in beating death of son. Father had obtained custody despite extensive history of violence, drug abuse.

Father: CAMERON BROWN
Victim(s): Lauren Sarene Key (4 years)
Date of Death: November 2000
Father scheduled to go to trial for 3rd time for death of daughter. Daughter was allegedly pushed off cliff during visitation in order to avoid child support.

Father: EDUARDO VILLAREAL
Victim(s): Trudy Bonilla (ex-girlfriend, mother of child), Naomi (ten days)
Date of Death: October 2010
Father in “custody dispute” with mother of newborn child rams his truck into bedroom where his ex, the baby are sleeping. Both are killed.

Orange County

Father: GIDEON WALTER OMONDI
Victim(s): Richie Omondi (4 years)
Date of Death: 2006
Father shared custody with the child's mother. Drowned son to avoid child support. Father convicted of 1st-degree murder in January 2010.

Father: UNNAMED FATHER
Victim(s): Soon to be ex-wife, daughter (8 years)
Date of Death: November 2010
Father in “custody dispute” shoots and kills ex-wife, daughter in murder-suicide.

Riverside County

*Father: ALEXANDRO BAEZA
Victim(s): Isaac Gallegos (2 years)
Date of Death: April 2010
Father charged with murder in the death of son, who was killed during weekend visitation with the father. Parents had never been married and had been in a “custody dispute” for the past year. The “family” had a history with CPS. Father had shown zero interest in the baby for the first year. And yet the judge--in this case Judge John M. Pacheco--awarded the father twice-a-week visitation anyway. He then proceeded to ignore the mother's concerns regarding the child's injuries and signs of psychological trauma. In fact, he threatened to strip the mother of custody for bringing up her concerns. In December 2010, father ordered to trial. Father found guilty of 2nd-degree murder in September 2011.

Father: ANGEL GARCIA III
Victim(s): 5-year-old daughter
Date of Death: November 2010
Father, step arrested for murder, accessory to murder. Custodial status unclear.

Sacramento County

Father: ADRIAN RAMON MCGRATH
Victim(s): Jeremiah McGrath (3 years)
Date of Death: March 2010
Son beaten to death in home of father, stepmother

*Father: MOURAD “MONI” SAMAAN
Victim(s): Madeline Layla Samaan-Fay (2 years)
Date of Death: August 2011
Though mother was a deputy to the state attorney general and had been recently granted custody, her request for father’s access to be limited to supervised visitation was denied by family court judge James Mize. Daughter killed in murder-suicide that was declared an act of “justice” by father’s surviving brother.

San Bernadino County

Father: JESUS ROMAN FUENTES
Victim(s): Jesus Gabriel Fuentes (4 years)
Date of Death: February 2010
Father crashes car, shoots to death son during visitation. Parents divorced. Father in critical condition from self-inflicted gunshot wound.

*Father: STEPHEN CHARLES GARCIA
Victim(s): Wyatt Garcia (9 months)
Date of Death: January 2010
Father kills son in murder-suicide during court-ordered visitation. Parents never married. Mother had pleaded with 3 judges regarding father's violence, threats.

San Diego County

Father: KEVIN COLLIER
Victim(s): Rhilee Collier (14 months), Beverli Rakov (baby’s maternal grandmother), Jared Slocum (police officer)
Date of Death: August 2011
Mother had just filed for divorce days before and was seeking sole custody. Daughter found shot to death in father’s truck. Others found shot to death in arson murder-suicide. Father’s own father, brother had previously filed for orders of protection.

Father: THOMAS FUCHS
Victim(s): Sean Fuchs (15 years), Kyle Fuchs (13 years)
Date of Death: June 2011
Father with “full custody” killed teen sons in murder-suicide. Mother was apparently trying to regain custodial rights.

Father: DENNIS POTTS
Victim(s): Tori Vienneau (22 years), Dean Springtube (10 months)
Date of Death: July 2006
Father is convicted in September 2009 in the murders of his former girlfriend and son. Father didn't want to take paternity test, pay child support.

Stanislaus County

*Father: MARK MESITI
Victim(s): Alycia Mesiti (14 years)
Date of Death: 2006. Body not found till March 2009.
Custodial father pleaded not guilty to daughter’s rape and murder in June 2011. Murder allegedly took place just months after father awarded custody. Father awarded custody despite long criminal history and history of child neglect complaints.

Father: ANTHONY LEE WILLIAMS
Victim(s): Hussan Williams (10 years)
Date of Death: June 2010
Father killed son in murder-suicide. Parents going through divorce, with “custody rights” still to be settled.

Ventura County

Father: JAMES MULVANEY
Victim(s): Jason Mulvaney (12 years), Jennifer Mulvaney (7 years)
Date of Death: September 2009
Father stabs to death son and daughter in murder-suicide during overnight visitation. Parents had shared custody and were still involved in divorce, custody case.

COLORADO

Arapahoe County

Father: AARON THOMPSON
Victim(s): Aarone Thompson (7 years)
Date of Death: Reported missing in November 2005. Body never recovered.
Father convicted in September 2009 in daughter's murder. Father had custody, as he had abducted the children from mother in Michigan.

Boulder County
Father: DAVID HEYDENBURG
Victim(s): Allyson Heydenburg (3 years)
Date of Death: August 2011
Father shot and killed daughter in murder-suicide during weekend visitation. Father purportedly upset over pending custody issues.

Douglas County

*Father: SIMON GONZALES
Victim(s): Rebecca, Katheryn, and Leslie Gonzales (minor daughters)
Date of Death: June 199
Custodial mother had order of protection. But police still refused to act or enforce the order when father abducted daughters. Hours later, father opened fire outside police station. Father killed in shoot out. Daughters found dead in the back of father’s pickup truck. Case eventually went to U.S. Supreme Court and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

El Paso County

*Father: HANIF SIMS
Victim(s): Genesis Sims (9 years)
Date of Death: December 2008
Father obtained custody in New Jersey and retained custody despite child abuse investigations in that state. Father and girlfriend relocated to Colorado. Girl’s remains found in former home’s crawl space in May 2010. In November 2010, Father, girlfriend both charged in girl’s death, ordered to trial. Father pleads guilty to child abuse in daughter’s death in January 2012.

Grand County

Father: WILLLIAM AHROLD
Victim(s): Jackson Ahrold (9 years)
Date of Death: December 2011
Divorced father with unspecified “custody order” shoots son to death in murder-suicide. Father appears to have history of alcoholism.

Jefferson County

Father: JOSEPH TRUJILLO
Victim(s): Adrian Trujillo (5 months)
Date of Death: January 2010
Father charged in death of infant son. Father had physical custody while mother in military. Father alleged to have left baby alone while father went out drinking for 7 hours. Baby later found dead. In October 2010, father sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Logan County

Father: MARK WEEKS
Victim(s): Alexis McClain (3 years)
Date of Death: July 2010
Custodial father, step charged with murder in death of daughter. Non-custodial mother lives out of state, apparently in California. Dad convicted of 1st-degree murder in November 2011, sentenced to 48 years in prison in January 2012.

Pueblo County

Father: JOHN WESLEY FRENCH
Victim(s): Desirea French (8 years)
Date of Death: April 2011
Custodial father charged with 1st-degree murder in daughter’s shooting death.

CONNECTICUT

New Haven County

Father: MORRIES D. HILL SR.
Victim(s): Morries Hill Jr. (5 months)
Date of Death: 2008
Father charged in connection with the death of son. Baby died from "severe physical abuse." Infant died in father's home during overnight visitation.

FLORIDA

Alachua County

Father: ANTHONY SCOTT ENCLARDE
Victim(s): Ashton (14 months)
Date of Death: January 2011
Father charged with manslaughter. Custodial arrangements not clear, though mother did not live in the home and apparently gave birth in North Carolina. Father on probation for previous child neglect concerning another child.

Bay County

Father: THOMAS EVERETT BROWN IV
Victim(s): unnamed Child (20 months), unnamed child injured (7 months)
Date of Death: August 2010
Father facing open murder count in beating death of 20-month-old child. News accounts mention that parents lived in separate households, but custody/visitation arrangements not explained. Father has violent criminal record.

Citrus County

Father: SPENCER WEAVER
Victim(s): Unnamed son (2 months)
Date of Death: February 2010
Father with extensive criminal background being investigated in death of infant son, who died during visitation with father.

Collier County

Father: SAMUEL SEJOUR
Victim(s): Elijay Kye Aliazar (3 months)
Date of Death: January 2009
Father had shared custody with infant's mother. Son died of blunt force trauma to the head during visitation. Father charged with 2nd-degree murder.

Duval County

*Father: JOSI M. HALL
Victim(s): Kyla Hall (1 year)
Date of Death: 2008
Father had sole custody, and had been cleared of previous abuse allegations. Daughter died of blunt force trauma at home. Father convicted of 2nd-degree murder, and in May 2010, sentenced to life in prison.

Father: ERNEST WRIGHT
Victim(s): Mesia Wright (2 years)
Date of Death: November 2010
Girl dies of methadone overdose while in visitation with father. Babysitting girlfriend charged with aggravated manslaughter. Mom had primary custody, but “allowed” child to stay with father when at work or school.

Gilchrist County

Father: ROLAND MATTHEW
Victim(s): Kristina Hepp (4 years)
Date of Death: April 2009
Father filed for custody in November 2008, obtained it in February 2009. Child was apparently sexually abused, battered, and tortured from the start. In April 2010, father pleaded no contest to 1st-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison.

Hillsborough County

Father: JUSTIN GARWACKI
Victim(s): John Taylor Baxley (3 years)
Date of Death: August 2010
Son normally lived with mother in Missouri. Child died during summer visitation with father, girlfriend. Both charged with murder in February 2011.

*Father: DWAYNE POOLE
Victim(s): Ronderique Anderson (16 months)
Date of Death: February 2011
Father acquired custody after the mother of the baby’s under-aged mother died, and baby’s mother was placed in foster care. Father had previous arrests for battery, and is charged with 1st-degree murder.

Father: CHAUNCEY ROBINSON
Victim(s): Chavon Robinson (22 months)
Date of Death: February 2008
Father convicted in December 2009 of murdering child during visitation.

Jackson County

Father: WESLEY JONATHAN WILLIAMS
Victim(s): Danielle Baker (mother), sons Ahmaad (4 years) and Amarion (1 year), and unrelated infant.
Date of Death: 2005
Father allegedly committed quadruple murder because he was angry about child support.

Lake County

Father: RICHARD L. ADAMS
Victim(s): Kayla McKean (6 years)
Date of Death: 1998
Custodial father beat daughter to death. Had been subject of multiple CPS investigations.

Lee County

Father: MANUEL DE JESUS ROSALES
Victim(s): Karminda Rosales Salazar (20-year-old daughter that survived stabbing), grandson Josue Rosales (2 months)
Date of Death: May 2010
Custodial father sexually abused daughter, she gave birth to older child who survives. Father then attacked adult daughter with knife, and stabbed to death son she had with boyfriend.

Father: RYAN COSTELLO
Victim(s): Darwin (3 months)
Date of Death: June 2010
Father charged with 2nd-degree murder, but in November 2010, Costello released on bond and Judge J. Seals granted him visitation with surviving son.

Okaloosa County

Father: GRANT SHERWIN
Victim(s): Logan Sherwin (2 years)
Date of Death: December 2011
Child’s death took place at home of (apparently custodial) father and fiancée. Both charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect.

Orange County

Father: ROOSEVELT BRADLEY II
Victim(s): Roosevelt Bradley III (8 months)
Date of Death: August 2009
Father arrested for murder of infant during visitation.

Osceola County

Father: MELVIN ORTIZ
Victim(s): Unnamed Son (5 years)
Date of Death: July 2009
Son beaten to death while visiting father, stepmother.

Palm Beach County

*Father: TONY CAMACHO
Victim(s): Crystal Camacho (8 years), Nelson Camacho (10 years)
Date of Death: December 2006
Father and mother were finalizing divorce. During Christmas visitation, father stabbed daughter, then killed her and brother in arson murder-suicide. Mother had unsuccessfully petitioned for protection. Article from November 2010 mentions that surviving mother Jennie Carter is now an advocate for victims of domestic violence.

Father: NATHAN MADDOX
Victim(s): Shelby (3 weeks)
Date of Death: 2010
Despite extensive criminal history, father granted custody of newborn daughter. After autopsy showed that baby died from blunt force trauma to the head, father charged with 2nd-degree murder in October 2011.

Pasco County

Father: THOMAS LUDWIG
Victim(s): Diella Ludwig (2 months)
Date of Death: December 2008
CPS granted father THOMAS LUDWIG custody of infant twins. Father charged with 1st-degree murder in Diella's death, and was convicted in November 2010.

Santa Rosa County

Father: DAVID “HAMILTON” COOK
Victim(s): Hayden (2 months)
Date of Death: September 2010
Despite extensive drug problems, father granted overnight visitation with infant son. Baby dies of asphyxiation on second overnight visit.

Seminole County

Father: FIDEL JUAREZ-AVILA, SR
Victim(s): Aurelia Juarez (14 months)
Date of Death: June 2008
In March 2010, custodial father sentenced to 21 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter in death of daughter.

Volusia County

Father: MICHAEL REESE
Victim(s): Jeremiah Reese (14 years)
Date of Death: September 2009
Jeremiah Reese died of "accidental overdose" at the home of his custodial father. Father had long history of abuse, neglect with CPS.

GEORGIA

Athens-Clarke County

Father: KEITH JERMAINE GRESHAM
Victim(s): Keionte Gresham (4 years), Keion Gresham (7 years)
Date of Death: May 2010
Father shot children to death in murder-suicide during visitation. Had extensive history of stalking, domestic violence.

Clayton County

Father: JAMALL DECARLOS MATHIS
Victim(s): Ja’mari Myckahi Jones (17 months)
Date of Death: September 2009
In November 2010, father on trial for murdering son during visitation, allegedly to avoid child support.

DeKalb County

Father: GARY DETOMA
Victim(s): Gary DeToma Jr. (5 years), Will DeToma (4 years – injured)
Date of Death: July 2010
Father seeking “full custody” charged with murder of 5-year-old son during visitation. Parents had been going through divorce.

Gwinnett County

Father: ELVIS NOE GARCIA
Victim(s): Edward Garcia (1 year), Bradley Garcia (3 years)
Date of Death: February 2011
Father charged in fatal stabbing of two sons, and in critical stabbing of a third son. Father had been in “custody battle” with the mother over the children.

HAWAII

Honolulu County

*Father: NAEEM WILLIAMS
Victim(s): Talia Williams (5 years)
Date of Death: 2005
Custodial father still facing charges in daughter's death. Had gained custody just 7 months before murder.

IDAHO

Ada County

Father: NICHOLAS BACON
Victim(s): Bekm Bacon (8 months)
Date of Death: February 2010
Father shot to death son in murder-suicide. Parents going through divorce, but had joint custody. Infant killed during visitation with father.

Father: ANDREW DAVIS
Victim(s): Natasha Echon-Davis (3 years)
Date of Death: May 2011
Father with joint custody kills daughter in murder-suicide. Had been battling mother for custody rights since baby’s birth.

Bannock County

Father: LEE ROSS BARBONE
Victim(s): Richard Barbone (7 months)
Date of Death: May 2011
Despite history of domestic battery, father granted custody/visitation rights with infant son. Father charged with 1st-degree murder.

Jerome County

Father: ROBERT ARAGON
Victim(s): Sage Aragon (11 years)
Date of Death: December 2008
Custodial father acquitted of involuntary manslaughter in hypothermia death of daughter. Father had told to her to walk to mother's home during blizzard.

Twin Falls County

Father: JIM NICE JR.
Victim(s): Justin Nice (6 years), Spencer Nice (6 years), Raquel Anna Nice (2 years)
Date of Death: 2005
Father murdered children with rat poison during court-ordered visitation.

ILLINOIS

Cook County

Father: JAMES LARRY
Victim(s): Jahad Larry (7 months), Kalesh Larry (3 years), Keyshai Fields (16 years), Tawana Thompson Larry (19 years)
Date of Death: April 2010
Father with extensive criminal background charged in the murder of infant son, wife, two nieces. Had been awarded joint custody of infant through paternity action one week prior to killings.

DuPage County

Father: RICHARD LYONS
Victim(s): Mya (9 years)
Date of Death: July 2008
In January 2011, father finally arrested in stabbing death of daughter. Had been staying with father for summer visitation.

Kane County

Father: ANTONY MANGIAMELE
Victim(s): Riley (2 years)
Date of Death: February 2005
Father kills son in murder-suicide during unsupervised visitation ordered by Judge William Weir. According to October 2010 article, the judge resigned on the 4th anniversary of the boy’s murder.

McClean County

*Father: MICHAEL CONNELLY
Victim(s): Duncan Connelly (6 years) and Jack Connelly (4 years)
Date of Death: March 2009
Father killed sons in murder-suicide during court-ordered visitation. Mother had extensive involvement with the courts trying to prevent contact with father.

Father: JEFF MEECE
Victim(s): Erika Meese (14 months)
Date of Death: August 2009
In September 2010, father found unfit to stand trial for murder, though he had been granted twice weekly visitation. Daughter beaten to death with a baseball bat.

Will County

Father: CHIDI ESI
Victim(s): Nathan Esi (19 months)
Date of Death: October 2009
Father accused of drowning son during visitation.

INDIANA

Delaware County

*Father: RYAN MCCONNIEL
Victim(s): Lauren McConniel (5 years)
Date of Death: March 2010
Custodial father, step charged with felony child neglect charges. Girl died of severe malnutrition despite CPS investigations. Evidence that child was also sexually abused. Mother lost custody during divorce the year before in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Green County

Father: RONALD A. BOHANNON
Victim(s): Travis Bohannon (14 months)
Date of Death: August 2009
Father separated from wife. Son "accidently" shot during visitation. Father convicted of reckless homicide January 2010.

Lake County

Father: TERRY BETHEL (aka Terry Noel)
Victim(s): Josiah Shaw (13 months)
Date of Death: January 2008
Father allegedly arranged to have visitation with son, then shot him to death to avoid child support.

Father: LEON BURNS
Victim(s): Leon Walker (5 years)
Date of Death: April 2010
Boy found bound, tortured and beaten to death in home of custodial father. Death ruled a homicide.

Father: RILEY CHOATE
Victim(s): Christian Choate
Date of Death: 2009. Body not found till May 2011.
Boy allegedly tortured, killed by custodial father. Father gained custody with help of mental health therapist, and retained custody despite ongoing child abuse allegations.

Father: CORDELL RICHARDSON
Victim(s): Eboni Richardson (19 months)
Date of Death: August 2009
Father shot daughter during visitation. Didn't want child's mother to do a move away.

Marion County

Father: DAVID BROWN
Victim(s): Harley Brown (15 years), Ashley Brown (13 years) wounded
Date of Death: September 2005
Custodial dad pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder charges in July 2006. Mother was seeking custody at the time of crime.

Father: JOSHWA CARLISLE
Victim(s): Ex-girlfriend Tracie Shannon (22 years), Juliana (9 months)
Date of Death: September 2010
Father arrested in arson murder of ex-girlfriend, infant daughter. Father allegedly wanted to avoid paying child support.

St. Joseph County

Father: TERRY STURGIS
Victim(s): Tramelle Sturgis (10 years)
Date of Death: November 2011
Custodial father charged with murder in son’s beating death. Also facing battery charges involving two other sons. Previous CPS investigations had found children “well nurtured” and safe, with no signs of abuse.

Tippecanoe County

*Father: CHRISTIAN GAUVIN
Victim(s): Aiyana Gauvin (4 years)
Date of Death: March 2005
Child beaten to death after months of abuse and neglect. Custodial father sentenced to 50 years in prison. In June 2011, state settles lawsuit filed by mother’s family.

IOWA

Linn County

Father: ZYRIAH SCHLITTER
Victim(s): Kamryn (17 months)
Date of Death: March 2010
In July 2011, custodial father charged in daughter’s beating death. Girlfriend also charged. Father had obtained “exclusive custody” just weeks before daughter’s death.

KANSAS

Montgomery County

*Father: RANDY COONS
Victim(s): Brooklyn Coons (23 months)
Date of Death: January 2008
Girl died in home of custodial father. Girlfriend convicted of 1st-degree murder. Mother deceased. Safety concerns of maternal grandparents ignored by KS SRS.

Shawnee County

Father: JAMES KRAIG KAHLER
Victim(s): Karen Kahler (44 years), Emily Kahler (18 years), Lauren Kahler (16 years), Dorothy Wight (89 years)
Date of Death: Nov. 2009
Parents were in the process of divorcing, reportedly "sparring over children." Father convicted, sentenced to death in October 2011.


Sumner County

Father: UNNAMED FATHER
Victim(s): Caden Michael Reemes (4 years)
Date of Death: August 2009
Child asphyxiated at the home of his custodial UNNAMED FATHER.

KENTUCKY

Anderson County

*Father: TIMOTHY FRAZIER
Victim(s): Cole Frazier (21 months)
Date of Death: May 2009
Father obtained custody with police assistance through fraudulent EPO. Shot son to death in murder-suicide. Mother suing police, city.

Christian County

Father: CHARLES T. MORRIS
Victim(s): Alayna Adair (3 years)
Date of Death: July 2011
Custodial father charged with murder in daughter’s death. State social worker is accused of failing to properly investigate previous abuse claim from one month before. Father had previous history of CPS investigations, domestic violence reports.

Clark County

Father: PATRICK WATKINS
Victim(s): Michaela Watkins (10 years)
Date of Death: 2007
Custodial father, stepmother found guilty of murder in girl's death. Girl removed from mother's home by social workers.

Henderson County

Father: MATTHEW BIAS
Victim(s): Annaliese Grace Bias (7 years)
Date of Death: August 2011
Father killed daughter in murder-suicide just hours before “new custody arrangements” were to begin.

Margoffin County

Father: JAMES GARCIA
Victim(s): Cameron Bryce Mullins (4 years)
Date of Death: December 2010
Father and girlfriend are charged with manslaughter in son’s beating death. Child was “in their care” at the time he was injured.

LOUISIANA

Bossier Parish

*Father: WESLEY LOWE
Victim(s): Anna Celeste Lowe (5 years)
Date of Death: January 2011
Father got “temporary custody” after accusing mother of abuse. Though charges were determined to be unfounded, father managed to get 4 district judges to sign off 5 times on extending order. Father had history of domestic violence, drug abuse. Father charged with negligible homicide, step with 1st-degree murder (later dropped to 2nd-degree murder). Mother filed lawsuit against Louisiana DCF in February 2012.

Calcasieu Parish

*Father: WILLIAM STEWARD VINCENT
Victim(s): Savanna Vincent (5 years)
Date of Death: June 2008
In July 2010, custodial father, step finally indicted for 2nd-degree murder. Non-custodial mother filed suit against state in July 2011. Claims DSS failed to investigate validated child abuse complaints.

East Baton Rouge Parish

Father: CLAYTON LEE MURPHY JR.
Victim(s): Juwan Murphy (8 years), Tayshuan Murphy (2 years)
Date of Death: October 2008
Father stabbed children to death during visitation in order to “get back” at his estranged wife. Had threatened to harm the children before. Convicted of 1st-degree murder in June 2010.

Livingston Parish

Father: EDUARDO KYLE HERODIAS
Victim(s): Kaylene Herodias (4 months), Kayla Herodias (4 months – severely injured)
Date of Death: May 2010
Father in “custody battle” with babies’ mother charged with 1st-degree murderer in death of twin daughter. Dad admitted shaking the babies during his visitation time.

Orleans Parish

Father: DANNY PLATT
Victim: Ja'Shawn (2 years)
Date of Death: January 2010
Father arrested for murder of son during weekend visitation; alleged that father had been trying to avoid paying back child support.

Pointe Coupee Parish

Father: AARON BOWMAN
Victim(s): Aaron Bowman, Jr.
Date of Death: November 2009
Father had "temporary" custody of son, 2-year-old daughter when son beaten to death. Father charged with 1st-degree murder.

MAINE

Kennebec County

Father: SHANE SOUCY
Victim(s): Connor Soucy (4 months)
Date of Death: August 2009
Infant became "unresponsive" during visit with father. Later died at hospital.

MARYLAND

Baltimore County

*Father: MARK CASTILLO
Victim(s): Anthony Castillo (6 years), Austin Castillo (4 years), Athena Castillo (2 years)
Date of Death: March 2008
Mother had tried to stop father from having access, but blocked by courts. Children murdered during court-ordered visitation.

Father: STEPHEN NELSON
Victim(s): Turner Jordan Nelson (3 years)
Date of Death: February 2008
Murdered by father by being thrown off bridge. Father and mother had argued in court over custody. In January 2011, father sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Father: TIMOTHY LEWIS
Victim(s): Chloe Lewis (6 months)
Date of Death: October 2010
“Sole Guardian” father charged with murder in suffocation death of daughter. Mom apparently lives in a group home and was “refused” custody.

Father: TYRONE HAMBER
Victim(s): Melonia Hamber (2 years)
Date of Death: April 2010
Father charged in daughter's beating death. Child had been visiting with father for two weeks prior to her death.

Hartford County

Father: KEATON IRONS
Victim(s): Shamyrah Irons (1 year)
Date of Death: May 2010
Child beaten to death while child was “in the care and custody of her father.” Father charged with murder.

Montgomery County

Father: GERALD ROBERT WELLS
Victim(s): Jacob Matthew Dunn (23 months)
Date of Death: October 2006
Parents were never married. Father frequently protested against paying child support. Just months after filing for joint custody, father murdered son by asphyxiation during “planned visit.”

Talbot County

Father: RICHARD W. SPICKNALL II
Victim(s): Destiny Array Spicknall, wounded (3 years), Richard Spicknall III (2 years)
Date of Death: September 1999
Father with joint custody fabricates story of car high jacking, children found shot in car seats. Mother had reported previous domestic violence incident. Father charged with murder.

MASSACHUSETTS

Bristol County

Father: KRISTOPHER GRIFFIN
Victim(s): Kaitlyn (6 years)
Date of Death: July 2009
Father allegedly murdered daughter because he was concerned about a possible move away.

Essex County

Father: ERNESTO GONZALEZ
Victim(s): Giovanni Gonzalez (5 years)
Date of Death: August 2008
Boy “disappeared” during “scheduled visit” with father. Formal visitation agreement had yet to be worked out. Father had previous criminal convictions, including assault. He has apparently confessed to killing the boy, but there has been no criminal conviction. Body has not been found. In December 2011, psychologist ruled that father incompetent to stand trial.

Worcester County

Father: LESLIE G. SHULER
Victim(s): Nathaniel Turner (7 years)
Date of Death: June 2009
Father charged with beating death of son. Took place during father's summer visitation, which he had just recently obtained. As of January 2012, father’s lawyers seeking change of venue for trial.

MICHIGAN

Genesee County

Father: LENSLEY MARTIN JR.
Victim(s): Lensley Martin III (6 months)
Date of Death: September 2011
Father charged with murder. Child’s death occurred three days after mother filed paternity suit to collect child support.

Kent County

Father: RODRICK DANZLER
Victim(s): Kamrie Deann Heeren-Danzler (12 years), mother Jennifer Heeren-Danzler, 5 others
Date of Death: July 2011
Ex-convict father with extensive criminal history goes on shooting spree ending in suicide. Father reputedly angry about child custody/visitation matters, that “estranged” wife had taken daughter for three days and not returned her.

Lenawee County

Father: JOHN SKELTON
Victim(s): Andrew Skelton (9 years), Alexander Skelton (7 years), Tanner Skelton (5 years)
Date of Death: Presumably around November 2010
Children were presumably killed during court-ordered visitation. Father has reported many stories—that he left them with a woman, that he left them with a mysterious “organization.” However, police strongly suspect the children were murdered. No bodies have been found. In September 2011, father sentenced to 10-15 years for unlawful imprisonment.

Macomb County

Father: JEFF WOLFENBARGER
Victim(s): Lily Furneaux-Wolfenbarger (2 years)
Date of Death: November 2010
Parents “shared” custody. Stepmother “suspected” in girl’s death.

Montcalm County

*Father: OLIVER BRAMAN
Victim(s): Elaine Kaczor-Braman (stepmother), Nicholas Braman (9 years)
Date of Death: October 2007
Custodial father with history of domestic violence, child abuse kills second wife, son in murder-suicide. Mother had reclaimed custody of older sons after they ran away. Father pleaded guilty to abusing the older boys, but failed to show up for sentencing. CPS, however, refused to remove youngest son. In July 2010, protective mother filed federal suit against child protective services.

Oakland County

Father: JOHN KELLY
Victim(s): unnamed infant (13 weeks)
Date of Death: February 2010
Infant died during unsupervised visitation.

Ottawa County

Father: SALVATOR FLORES
Victim(s): Sandra Flores (10 years)
Date of Death: August 2010
Girl dies after suffering convulsions in the home of her custodial father. Father had history of complaints with CPS, and girl had previously been removed from the home.

St. Clair County

*Father: JOE GALVAN
Victim(s): Prhaze Galvan (3 years)
Date of Death: January 2010
Child died of blunt force trauma in home of custodial father, stepmother. Both face murder charges. In August 2010, convicted of murder and torture, and later sentenced to life in prison. Later ombudsman report refuses to clarify why father with history of domestic violence, child abuse, and criminal behavior had been granted custody, and how he was able to retain it.

Wayne County

*Father: STEVEN NICHOLSON
Victim(s): Ella Grace Stafford (15 months), Jonathan Sanderlin (13 months)
Date of Death: October 2010
Father had full custody of son, “partial” custody of daughter. Both children lived with him. Charged with felony murder in the scalding/drowning deaths of the two children. Appears mother of son lost custody when accused of “kidnapping” for refusing contact/visitation. Father has history of domestic violence, drug/alcohol abuse. Dad convicted of 1st-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison in May 2011.

Father: UNNAMED DAD
Victim(s): Kamarion Lewis (2 years)
Date of Death: May 2011
One week after father granted custody because of mother’s alleged abuse, son drowns in father’s home.

MINNESOTA

Ramsey County

Father: JOHN OLSON
Victim(s): Mikayla Olson
Date of Death: 2004
Father given joint legal custody despite repeated threats to kill daughter, ex-wife. Two years after divorce, dad murdered daughter during “parenting time.”

MISSISSIPPI

Hinds County

Father: ZACCHAEUS BROWN
Victim(s): Jaheem Brown (4 months)
Date of Death: February 2011
Father charged with capital murder. Mother only 15 years of age, parents did not live together. Child fatally injured while at father’s home during weekend visitation. Not clear as to whether visitation voluntary or court-ordered.

MISSOURI

Cass/Jackson Counties

Father: CLINTON GALLAGHER
Victim(s): Alex Gallagher (6 years)
Date of Death: December 2010
Father kills son in murder–suicide after judge ignored mother’s request for order of protection, temporary custody.

Father: MARK GUENTHER
Victim(s): Elizabeth Guenther (18 months)
Date of Death: February 2010
Father to be charged with 2nd-degree murder. Baby suffered fatal skull fracture during father's weekend visitation.

*Father: DAN PORTER
Victim(s): Sam Porter (7 years), Lindsey Porter (8 years)
Date of Death: June 2004
Father murdered children during court-ordered visitation. Had extensive history of domestic violence.

Father: MARINO SALINAS
Victim(s): Avee Hunter (4 months)
Date of Death: April 2010
Father charged with 1st-degree murder. Prosecutors say that father plotted to kill baby to avoid child support.

Greene County

Father: KYLE BAYLOR
Victim(s): Vanessa Baylor (1 year)
Date of Death: February 2010
Father charged with 2nd-degree murder in daughter's death. Parents had separated, but father had been serving as "caregiver" for past week. Father had been scheduled to start paying child support to mother.

Howell County

Father: ERIC CHAPPELLE
Victim(s): Jacob Chappelle (4 years)
Date of Death: May 2011
Father charged with drowning son during visitation; parents in process of finalizing divorce, deciding custody. Father had history of domestic violence and previous child molestation accusations. Also charged with attempted assault against two law enforcement officers.

Father: UNNAMED DAD
Victim(s): Zeke Breeds (6 years)
Date of Death: September 2010
Boy died of drug overdose while living with custodial dad, step. Both are charged. Mother lives in St. Louis.

St. Louis County

Father: Nathaniel Robinson
Victim(s): Desmon Valenzuela (3 years)
Date of Death: 2007
Father obtained custody 1 month before child's beating death. Convicted of involuntary manslaughter.

MONTANA

Missoula County

Father: ROBERT J. WILKES
Victim(s): Gabriel Wilkes (3 months)
Date of Death: October 2008
In June 2010, custodial father convicted of homicide in death of infant son.

NEBRASKA

Dodge County

Father: LUCAS PETERSON
Victim(s): Trista Peterson (1 year)
Date of Death: January 2007
As of October 2010, the Nebraska Supreme Court has affirmed that this “sole caretaker” father can be charged in child abuse resulting in death, unlawful burial. In April 2007, Peterson had cut a deal with prosecutors and lead authorities to daughter’s grave. In January 2011, father finally pleads guilty to manslaughter. Has never been reported in the media what happened to the girl’s mother.

NEVADA

Clark County

Father: BRANDON TODD ARDUINO
Victim(s): Brandon Christopher Arduino-Boggs (13 years)
Date of Death: September 2009
Son killed in auto homicide case where father DUI. Parents had been in lengthy child custody case.

Father: ALEX KOPYSTENSKI
Victim(s): Giovani Kopystenski (5 years)
Date of Death: July 2009
Custodial father. Autistic son "accidentally" shoots himself in head after finding gun in father's car. In January 2011, father sentenced to 2 – 20 years in prison.


Father: RICHARD MARTINO
Victims(s): Zander Martino (2 years)
Date of Death: July 2007
Father had gained custody just two months before son's beating death.

Father: UNNAMED DAD
Victim(s): Sabrina (3 years), mother Veronica Erazo
Date of Death: November 2011
Mother and daughter shot to death in murder-suicide just after mother dropped off girl at father’s house. Not clear if this involved informal or court-ordered visitation.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Hillsborough County

Father: MANUEL GEHRING
Victim(s): Sarah Gehring (14 years), Phillip Gehring (11 years),
Date of Death: July 2003
Father with shared custody was still in custody “dispute” with mother. When father was supposed to return the children to their mother, father shot and killed the children and buried their bodies along an interstate in Ohio. Bodies not found till 2005. Father confessed to the murders, and committed suicide in prison.

NEW JERSEY

Bergen County

Father: ALLEN MCNEIL JR.
Victim(s): Allen McNeil III (3 years)
Date of Death: September 2011
Boy suffocated to death with dead father’s body found on top of him. Bodies found when Dad failed to show up for scheduled visitation with mother. Appears dad had custody.

Essex County

Father: TAMIR LITTLE
Victim(s): Neveah Turner (3 years)
Date of Death: November 2009
Father gained custody in July 2009, and began abusing the child almost immediately. Father arrested, charged with murder in May 2010.

Father: SHAMSIDDEN ABDUR-RAHEEM
Victim(s): Zara Malani-Lin Abdur (3 months)
Date of Death: February 2010
Father had been “feuding” with mother about how often he got to see the baby. While mother was getting a protection order, father abducted baby from babysitting grandmother. Baby was “allegedly” thrown off bridge. In May 2010, baby’s body was found and positively identified.

Monmouth County

*Father: ARTHUR FREEMAN III
Victim(s): Tierra Morgan-Glover (2 years)
Date of Death: November 2011
Despite history of domestic violence, father obtained court-ordered visitation. Father accused of murdering daughter by throwing her off bridge into creek. Father later arrested in California after disappearing.

Passaic County

Father: EDELMIRO GONZALEZ
Victim(s): Adrian Gonzalez (7 years)
Date of Death: November 2009
Father in "bitter custody dispute" with "estranged" wife. 7-year-old son shot to death; 11-year-old son, wife, left in critical condition.

NEW MEXICO

Bernalillo County

Father: RICHARD ROBERT SANCHEZ
Victim(s): Richard Jr., Daniel, and Christopher Sanchez
Date of Death: August 2001
Father "went missing" with sons during custodial visit. Bodies recovered, identified in July 2009.

Santa Fe County

*Father: MELVIN MARTINEZ
Victim(s): Derek Martinez (12 years), Devin Martinez (10 years)
Date of Death: June 2010
Father shoots sons to death in murder-suicide during summer visitation. Protective mother’s concerns dismissed by judge.

NEW YORK

Bronx County

Father: ANTHONY MIKELL
Victim(s): Kevin Mikell (2 years)
Date of Death: February 1996
Father granted custody when mother being “probed” for child abuse. Father had previously been arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest. Child beaten to death.

Columbia County

Father: FRANKLIN HANKERSON
Victim(s): Khliff Taylor Hankerson (5 years)
Date of Death: April 2010
Son killed in murder-suicide during visitation.

Erie County

Father: JAMES E. KENT
Victim(s); Joshua Kent (3 years)
Date of Death: March 2005
Sole custody father beats son to death.

Genessee County

Father: UNNAMED FATHER
Victim(s); Marcus Peters (6 years)
Date of Death: October 2009
Child dies during weekend visitation with father, but authorities say death not "suspicious."

Kings County

Father: JASON MARCELLE
Victim(s): Tkai Marcelle (3 years)
Date of Death: December 2007
Custodial father charged with 2nd-degree murder in daughter’s death. Father has criminal record, history of domestic violence, previous child welfare complaints.

Father: CHRISTOPHER WILLIS
Victim(s): Datwan Murray (2 ½ years)
Date of Death: June 1993
Mother had legal custody, but father had refused to return child after visitation. Father appeared to be a major drug dealer with drug arsenal.

Monroe County

*Father: MARK RESCH
Victim(s): Hunter Resch (7 years)
Date of Death: February 2010
Child shot to death in murder-suicide during court-ordered visitation. Father had history of domestic violence; mother had filed for two orders of protection.

Onondaga County

Father: MARCELL WASHINGTON
Victim(s): Ameen Washington (3 years)
Date of Death: November 2011
Father had “shared custody”—despite criminal record—and was supposed to be caring for son on weekends. Dad charged with 2nd-degree murder in son’s drowning death.

Orange County

Father: PATRICK FITZGERALD
Victim(s): Leanne Fitzgerald (wife, 38 years), Ashley Fitzgerald (7 years), Shane Fitzgerald (4 years)
Date of Death: September 1998
Parents had not separated at time of murders. But father had history of domestic violence, and filing for orders of protections and child custody in Orange County Family Court.

*Father: CHRISTOPHER RHODES
Victim(s): Jerica Rhodes (7 years)
Date of Death: January 2005
Sole custody father convicted in daughter's stabbing death. Father had extensive history of domestic violence.

Richmond County

Father: DARRELL TAYLOR
Victim(s): Josiah Taylor (2 years)
Date of Death: November 2010
Boy killed during visitation with father. Babysitting girlfriend, father each blaming the other.

Steuben County

Father: BRIAN ASHLINE
Victim(s): Xavier Ashline (3 months), Trieste Clayton, baby’s mother
Date of Death: June 2010
Dad with extensive history of domestic violence charged in stabbing deaths of infant son, infant's mother. Murders took place during Father’s Day visitation. Dad allegedly didn’t want mother to have the baby if he couldn’t. He also claimed she objected to him taking the baby back home, and that’s what caused the “fight.”

Warren County

Father: ADAM PARCELLS
Victim(s): Noel Parcells (10 years), Mia Parcells (3 years)
Date of Death: September 2011
Because of previous child abuse, father limited to supervised visitation with older daughter. Abducted girls during scheduled visit in Rochester, New York, and shot them to death in murder-suicide at a Lake George campground. Rochester police refused to issue immediate Amber Alert because they considered it just a custody matter. Father still had joint custody/weekend visitation with younger daughter.

Westchester County

Father: SAM FRIEDLANDER
Victim(s): Molly Friedlander (10 years), Gregory Friedlander (8 years), mother Amy Friedlander
Date of Death: October 2011
Parents said to be in “nasty, bitter divorce” and “bitter custody battle.” Father beat mother to death, then shot kids to death in their beds in murder-suicide.

NORTH CAROLINA

Caldwell County

Father: ADAM BAKER
Victim(s): Zahra Baker (10 years)
Date of Death: Fall 2010
Step convicted in girl’s murder. Custodial father has not been charged, though girl was apparently repeatedly abused in the home. Father relocated from Australia, and was allowed to relocate back there despite ongoing "unrelated" criminal charges in the U.S. Has refused to tell mother where daughter’s ashes were placed.

Carteret County

Father: MICHAEL LEE WYNE II
Victim(s): unnamed daughter (11 years)
Date of Death: June 2010
Father reports “accidentally” shooting and killing daughter just one day after she arrived for summer visitation from Arkansas.

Dare County

Father: DOUGLAS MONT
Victim(s): Catrina J. Mont (9 years), Daniel Preston Mont (6 years), Theresa Lynn Mont (4 years)
Date of Death: February 1995
Father with visitation abducted children from home in Delaware, then shot them to death in murder-suicide in North Carolina.

Durham County

Father: TYRONE XAVIER HESTER
Victim(s): Aaishia (22 months)
Date of Death: May 2011
Daughter killed in murder-suicide during father’s visitation. Mother had called police to do wellness check, father killed child half an hour after police left. Police had concluded child not “in danger.”

Edgecombe County

Father: BRICE MCMILLAN
Victim(s): Tyler Brice (13 years)
Date of Death: June 2008
Custodial father, stepmother convicted of 2nd-degree murder. Boy tied to tree; died of dehydration and heat exhaustion.

Forsyth County

Father: DEREK MORRIS
Victim(s): Iza Lilly Morris (6 years)
Date of Death: November 2011
Father was allegedly “estranged” from daughter’s mother, and they were in the process of “discussing” child custody. Father shot daughter to death in murder-suicide.

OKLAHOMA

Bryan County

Father: WOLF ABEL
Victim(s): Cheyenne Wolf (11 years)
Date of Death: April 2008
Custodial father, stepmother charged in girl's death. As of September 2010, girl’s remains still unclaimed. February 2011: Father found guilty of enabling child abuse, child abuse by neglect, unlawful removal of a body. Has never been reported how or why the father had custody, or what happened to the girl’s mother.

Garvin County

Father: DAVID ABLES
Victim(s): Twin sons (5 years)
Date of Death: March 2011
Father kills sons in arson murder-suicide. Was in process of finalizing divorce settlement with the children’s mother, and presumably the unspecified custody arrangements. Relative reports that father had threatened to harm children.

Oklahoma County

Father: SEAN DEAL
Victim(s): Serenity Deal (5 years)
Date of Death: June 2011
Father obtained custody with CPS approval despite previous child abuse complaints. In December 2011, father sentenced to life in prison for daughter’s beating death.

OHIO

Cuyahoga County

Father: ANTHONY JOHNSON
Victim(s) Anthony Johnson Jr.
Date of Death: August 2009
Father accused of beating child to death during visitation.

Franklin/Delaware Counties

Father: DANIEL J. DOBSON
Victim(s): Nicole Dobson (15 years), Sarah Dobson (11 years)
Date of Death: December 2009
Father had physical placement of 15-year-old daughter. "Shared parenting" plan in place with divorced mother. Girls shot to death in murder-suicide.

Hamilton County

*Father: CHRISTOPHER DANGERFIELD
Victim(s): Tyrese Short (3 years)
Date of Death: December 2010
Father charged with aggravated murder. Had been granted custody just 7 months before, though father had a lengthy criminal record including assault of a police officer.

Father: JAMES LYONS
Victim(s): Jaden Jenkins
Date of Death: September 2010
Father given custody after mother checked herself in for mental health treatment. Father charged with capital murder.

Highland County

Father: WESLEY COONROD
Victim(s): Steven Coonrod (3 years), Thomas Coonrod (4 years)
Date of Death: March 2010
Father with “full custody” charged with murder in arson deaths of two sons. News accounts mention history of domestic violence, alcoholism, “suspicious” fires at previous homes. In October 2010, Coonrod convicted on two counts of child endangering; jury deadlocked on murder, arson charges. In February 2011, convicted of two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Stark County

Father: JAMES MAMMONE III
Victim(s): Macy Mammone (5 years), James Mammone (3 years), Margaret Eakin (57 years)
Date of Death: June 2009
Divorced father convicted of stabbing children, beating to death former mother-in-law in January 2010.

OREGON

Clackamas County

Father: DONALD L. COCKRELL
Victim(s): Alexis Pounder (3 years)
Date of Death: January 2010
Father, mother had shared custody. Father, girlfriend charged with beating, starving girl to death. Mother allegedly blocked from seeing child by father.

Lane County

Father: RICHARD RAUCHER
Victim(s): Erin Raucher, Aidan Raucher (no ages given)
Date of Death: September 2010
“Despondent” stay-at-home dad granted “joint custody” in divorce. Kills daughters in murder-suicide, though mother had offered to pay father child support.

Mutnomah County

Father: CHRISTOPHER ROSILLO
Victim(s): Oleander Labier (5 years)
Date of Death: April 2010
Custodial father, fiancée charged in girl's death. In early 2011, father pleaded guilty to murder by abuse, and is serving a life sentence.

PENNSYLVANIA

Dauphin County

*Father: STEPHEN S. DIXON
Victim(s): Jayahn Cox-Phoenix (3 years)
Date of Death: May 2010
Parents had no formal custody agreement. Father played no role in child’s life until January 2010. Father allowed visitation by mother. In March 2010, father refused to return child or allow maternal contact. Mom’s early May 2010 petition for emergency custody denied by Judge Andrew Dowling despite allegations of child abuse. Custody hearing set for June 2010. Child dies before then of traumatic brain injury. Though death ruled a homicide, no charges filed as of September 2010. Grandmother plans lawsuit against county Children and Youth. Father’s preliminary hearing held in April 2011.

Franklin County

Father: CONWAY WELLER
Victim(s): Leeairra Ann Weller (5 years), Caleigh Ann Weller (8 months)
Date of Death: October 2010
Father with “shared custody” kills two daughters through carbon monoxide poisoning in murder-suicide.

Philadelphia County

*Father: DOMINGO "ANIBAL" FERREIRA
Victim(s) Charlenni Ferreira (10 years)
Date of Death: October 2009
Girl died from abuse in the home of her custodial father, stepmother. Father later (allegedly) committed suicide in jail cell.

Wyoming County

Father: JAMES ALAN AUSTIN
Victim(s): Unidentified infant
Date of Death: 1995
Single father acquired custody through surrogate mother. Pleaded guilty to 3rd-degree murder in baby’s beating death.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Anderson County

Father: JAMES T. DICKERSON
Victim(s): Jeremy Dickerson (7 years)
Date of Death: July 2009
Father with "full custody" charged in son's beating death.

Berkeley County

Father: ROGER “TONY” WILLIAMS
Victim(s): Rodricus Williams (2 years)
Date of Death: June 2010
Father, girlfriend charged with homicide in death of son during summer visitation.

Chester County

Father: UNNAMED FATHER
Victim(s): Xymerra Evans (11 months)
Date of Death: September 2009
Child sexually abused, beaten during visitation with father. Later died at hospital.

Chesterfield County

Father: MITCHELL CHARLES RIVERS
Victim(s): Mitchell Alexander Rivers (3 months)
Date of Death: 2005
Single adoptive dad convicted of homicide, sentenced to life in prison in February 2011.

TENNESSEE

Dyer County

*Father: CHRISTOPHER MILBURN
Victim(s): Stevie Noelle (15 years), foster father Todd Randolph, foster mother Susan Randolph (injured)
Date of Death: August 2009
Daughter disclosed sexual abuse by custodial father. Children’s Services placed her with foster family in the same neighborhood. Father shoots daughter, foster parents in murder-suicide. In August 2010, non-custodial mother files lawsuit against the State of Tennessee.

Fayette County

Father: SEAN LEIFER
Victim(s): Gage Leifer (9 months)
Date of Death: December 2009
In November 2010, father charged with murder. Boy’s death took place during father’s holiday visitation.

Shelby County

Father: CURTIS LEE MORRIS, JR.
Victim(s): Isaiah Snipes (16 months)
Date of Death: November 2009
Father had just obtained custody of son, 3-year-old daughter in September 2009. Father charged with 2nd-degree murder.

Warren County

Father: MITCHELL STONE
Victim(s): Kayndace (3 years), Akeelia (1 year)
Date of Death: May 2009
Custodial father, stepmother charged in deaths of two girls.

TEXAS

Austin County

Father: NICHOLAS WILLIAMS
Victim(s): Alaney Queen (2 years)
Date of Death: May 2011
Father arrested in daughter’s beating death after girlfriend calls 911. Custodial arrangements not explained, though it is said that mother lived out of state.

Bexar County

Father: DOMINIQUE REED
Victim(s): Zaniyah Reed (2 months)
Date of Death: October 2010
Father accused of killing infant during visitation.

Dallas County

Father: MICHAEL RAY JAMES
Victim(s): Jonathan James (10 years)
Date of Death: July 2011
Boy dies from dehydration after allegedly being deliberately deprived of water for five days. The boy and his twin brother were visiting their father under a summer visitation arrangement. Reported that the boys did not want to go.

Father: NAIM RASOOL MUHAMMAD
Victim(s): Elijah (3 years), Naim (5 years)
Date of Death: August 2011
Father charged with kidnapping boys from custodial mother and drowning them.

Denton County

Father: DUKE WATROUS
Victim(s): Ashley Watrous (10 years)
Date of Death: December 2009
Custodial father charged in shooting death.

Donley County

*Father: ROBERT MONROE BABCOCK
Victim(s): Chance Mark Jones (4 years)
Date of Death: January 2011
Custodial father charged with capital murder. Boy beaten to death just weeks after father gained custody. Father had previously been uninvolved in child’s life.

Gaines/Yoakum Counties

Father: MARIO ROMERO
Victim(s): Mitchell Romero (3 years), unnamed mother
Date of Death: October- November 2009
Mother reportedly murdered by father during child abduction. Son later killed in car accident.

Galveston County

Father: DONTREL ALEXANDER SANDERS
Victim(s): Treashon Young (2 years)
Date of Death: March 2011
Father apparently custodial, and wanted by police in the death of son. Last seen in company of girlfriend, who is identified as not being the child’s mother.

Guadalupe County

*Father: DAVID BRASSE
Victim(s): Sarah Brasse (8 years)
Date of Death: February 2009
Custodial dad accused of medical neglect in death of daughter. Mother had been trying to regain custody since 2007. September 2010: Father indicted on charges of injury to a child. CPS had previously investigated the case two years before child’s death.

Harris County

Father: ALEX MCGOWEN DUNCAN
Victim(s): Tekerrious “TK” Jackson
Date of Death: July 2010
Father charged with murder in beating death of son during summer visitation.

Father: RODERICK FOUNTAIN
Victim(s): Kendrick Jackson (3 years)
Date of Death: April 2006
Father had custody when son allegedly “disappeared.” Though no body has ever been found, father convicted of felony murder in October 2011, partly based on witness descriptions of his violent abuse of the boy.

*Father: MOHAMMAD GOHER
Victim(s): Saeed (12 years), Saedah (14 years), Aisha (7 years)
Date of Death: September 2010
Despite an extensive history of domestic violence, father granted unsupervised visitation. Children shot to death while sleeping. Father charged with capital murder.

Jasper County

Father: LEO DESMOREAUX IV
Victim(s): Triston Dobbins (21 months)
Date of Death: December 2007
Boy died of head injuries while visiting father, stepmother. Father on trial for capital murder in January 2010.

San Jacinto County

*Father: PREDRAG PERISIC
Victim(s): Deyan Perisic (10 years), Danyela Perisic, injured (12 years)
Date of Death: December 2010
Father gained custody in Montreal, Canada in April 2010, and moved the children to Cold Spring, Texas. Mother regained custody in October 2010, and the children “disappeared” shortly thereafter. Father charged with shooting children when police tried to reclaim them.

Potter County

Father: ROBERT NUNEZ
Victim(s): Miguel Angel Nunez (18 moths)
Date of Death: 2004
Father had custody at the time of the baby’s “disappearance.” Mom was scheduled to get custody back due to custodial interference. Body not found until December 2010.

Travis County

Father: LEONARD “IVAN” SOLIZ
Victim(s): Julian Soliz (5 years)
Date of Death: April 2010
Custodial dad claims he was in jail on probation violation when son beaten to death, allegedly by girlfriend.

Young County

Father: GABRIEL ARMANDARIZ
Victim(s): Gatlin (2 years), Luke (6 months)
Date of Death: April 2011
Children had been living with their father pending an upcoming custody hearing involving their mother. Father allegedly killed the children, and sent photos of their bodies to mother.

UTAH

Salt Lake County

*Father: CLINTON HART
Victim(s): Vanessa Hart (4 years)
Date of Death: June 2010
Dad got custody of child as part of “messy” divorce. Took children from Oregon to Utah and denied mother contact. One and a half years later, father charged with felony murder. In October 2010, father pleaded not guilty. Convicted of child abuse homicide in August 2011.

VIRGINIA

Accomack County

Father: ESTEBAN QUINTERO-GONZALEZ
Victim(s): Jesus Quintero-Colon (10 years), Ana Estefani Quintero-Colon (9 years), mother Evelyn Estefani-Colon, apparently unrelated owner of home
Date of Death: December 2011
Father in “custody battle” breaks into mother’s home and shoots to death his two children, their mother, and another party in murder-suicide.

Chesterfield County

Father: BRANDON L. PARKER
Victim(s): Elijah Parker (2 months)
Date of Death: June 2010
Custodial dad charged with 2nd-degree murder.

Norfolk County

*Father: JOSHUA SAWYER
Victim(s): Carly Sawyer (5 years)
Date of Death: June 2009
Custodial father, stepmother charged with 2nd-degree murder. Mother lost custody during divorce, father denied mother contact. In October 2010, father sentenced to life in prison after conviction.

Roanoke County

Father: ROBERT KING
Victim(s): Twin daughters (3 years)
Date of Death: January 2012
Father in “custody battle” with children’s mother slashed children’s throats, funneled carbon monoxide into home in murder-suicide. Murders took place during weekend visitation.

Prince George’s County

Father: RICHMOND PHILLIPS
Victim(s): Jaylin Wright (1 year), Wynetta Wright (baby’s mother)
Date of Death: June 2011
Father charged in murders of daughter and ex-girlfriend, daughter's mother. Alleged that he wanted to avoid child support.

WASHINGTON

Grays Harbor County

Father: MICHAEL VANDERVEER
Victim(s): Ti-Ryn Emery (4 ½ months)
Date of Death: October 2010
Father arrested in death of infant son. Parents “not together” and baby had been in father’s “care.”

Pierce County

*Father: JOSH POWELL
Victim(s) Charlie Powell (7 years), Braden Powell (5 years). Mother Susan Cox Powell “disappeared” in 2009. Father only “person of interest” in her disappearance.
Date of Death: February 2012
Father killed sons in murder-suicide during supervised visitation at his home. Boys suffered hatchet wounds before house consumed by arson. Father had lost bid to regain child custody from maternal grandparents just days before. Originally lost custody in fall 2011 when paternal grandfather (with whom father and sons were living) arrested for child porn. Father only “person of interest” in mother’s disappearance (presumed murder) in December 2009.

Snohomish County

Father: STEPHEN BYRNE
Victim(s): Haley Byrne (9 years), Kelsey Byrne (11 years)
Date of Death: November 2004
Father who was “fixated” on his custody rights (and essentially had joint custody) kills daughters in murder-suicide. Father had history of domestic violence.

WEST VIRGINIA

Mercer County

*Father: RONALD HOLCOMB
Victim(s): Brooklyn Holcomb (5 years)
Date of Death: January 2007
Custodial father convicted of 2nd-degree murder in daughter's death. Mother had lost custody the year before after applying for child support.

WISCONSIN

Milwaukee County

Father: FRANCISCO MARQUEZ-LUNA
Victim(s): Derek Marquez (10 months)
Date of Death: May 2011
Father charged with killing son over weekend visitation.

Saulk County

*Father: DAVID R. YATES
Victim(s): Savannah Yates, Tyler Yates (3-week-old twins)
Date of Death: April 2008
Father charged with 1st-degree intentional homicide. Despite being on probation, father was granted weekend visitation. In October 2010, father convicted, sentenced to life in prison.