Killer Dads: Fathers who ended their children's lives in situations involving child custody, visitation, and/or child support
MARYLAND
Baltimore County
Father: MATTHEW CARR
Victim(s): Mya Carr (5 years)
Date of Death: February 2012
Dad charged with murdering daughter during his visitation time. Unable to locate media update on case as of October 2014.
*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 pleaded guilty in October 2009, and sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without possibility of parole.
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 (or Khloe) 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. No media update on this case has been found as of October 2014.
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. In February 2012, sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Father: JULIAN ROARY
Victims: Julian Roary Jr. (12 years), Ian Roary (10 years)
Date of Death: July 2015
Dad kills sons in murder-suicide at his home. Father cohabitated with girlfriend, media states that "biological mother" informed of the crime. Custodial situation not clear, but seems likely father had full custody, and at minimum, joint custody.
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.” In May 2011, father pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree murder.
Montgomery County
* Father: JOAQUIN S. RAMS
Victim(s): Prince McCleod Rams (2 months)
Date of Death: October 2012
Father in "bitter custody battle" with mother. Despite mother's repeated concerns which were expressed to the courts, son was beaten to death during father's fourth session of unsupervised visitation. Father "now" suspected in earlier murder of ex-girlfriend and apparent "suicide" of his own mother. In July 2013, prosecutor stated that may seek the death penalty. In November 2013, father charged with murder of former girlfriend more than ten years before.
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.” Father subsequently shot and killed himself.
Prince George County
Father: DARON BOSWELL-JOHNSON
Victim(s): Chloe Davis-Green (2 years), NeShante Davis (child's mother)
Date of Death: February 2016
Father charged with murder in shooting deaths of daughter and her mother. Allegedly wanted to avoid paying child support. Father formally indicted in April.
Father: THOMAS E. HOLLAND
Victim(s): Unnamed son (3 years)
Date of Death: January 2014
During court-ordered visitation, father allegedly dosed son with a fatal cocktail of drugs, including cocaine. Father charged with manslaughter in May 2014. Mother was seeking unpaid child support, father was denying paternity.
Father: FREDERICK ROY MILLER
Victim(s): Laila (3 years)
Date of Death: August 2014
Father in "custody battle" stabbed and shot daughter before being killed by police during shoot out. Father also shot daughter's grandparents, leaving them in critical condition. Father had been battling mother for custody since daughter's infancy. Was first awarded weekend visitation, this was later reduced to supervised visitation. Father had history of domestic violence and mother had previously filed for protection orders.
Father: RICHMOND PHILLIPS
Victim(s): Jaylin (1 year), Mother Wynetta Wright
Date of Death: June 2011
Father to go to trial on two counts of 1st-degree murder. Allegedly didn't want to pay child support. Father convicted on all counts in March 2013, and sentenced to life in prison.
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. Father charged with murder. Pleaded guilty in November 2000, and sentenced to life in prison with no parole. Was killed in prison in December 2006.