West Virginia

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

WEST VIRGINIA

Berkeley County

Father: JAMES N. MAULDIN
Victim(s): Kaiwon Connelly (3 years)
Date of Death: January 2012
Father, girlfriend charged in child's death. Though news accounts do not clarify the situation, appears that father was custodial, as the torture/abuse of the child was ongoing. No mention of mother. Trial reset for April 2013, and then for November 2013. Father convicted on all counts in March 2014.

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.

Putnam County

Father: ROBERT JEREMY SMITH
Victim(s): Madden A. Smith (5 weeks)
Date of Death: May 2014
Parents had reportedly "separated recently." Formal custody/visitation arrangements not reported, but clearly father had access rights as baby was found dead in the back of car during father's caretaking/visitation time. Appears baby was violently shaken. In addition, the baby was found to have multiple skull fractures and abrasions on his forehead. A bloody hammer was found in the home. Father also apparently tried to take his own life in botched suicide. In June 2014, father ruled competent for trial. Pleaded guilty to murder and sentenced to life in prison in August 2015.