Killer Dads: Fathers who ended their children's lives in situations involving child custody, visitation, and/or child support
MISSOURI
Cass/Jackson Counties
Father: CLINTON GALLAGHER
Victim(s): Alex Gallagher (6 years)
Date of Death: December 2010
Father killed 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. As of October 2014, the trial results had not been reported in the media.
*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 pleaded guilty to two counts of 1st-degree murder in January 2008, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
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. In December 2012, father found guilty of 1st-degree murder, sentencing to be determined in January 2013.
Clinton County
Father: JUSTIN R. WEBB
Victim(s): Lucas Webb (4 years)
Date of Death: October 2012
Custodial father, step charged with 2nd-degree murder. Despite numerous child abuse investigations, father retained custody and was declared to be a low-level risk just five days before son's death. Father's next appearance in court scheduled for July 2014. As of October 2014, there is no media update as to this case. Step pleaded guilty to murder in January 2016, father still out on bond.
Cole County
Father: DEMETRIUS BEASLEY
Victim(s): Markell Beasley (6 years)
Date of Death: December 24, 2013
During what was supposed to be holiday visitation, father killed child in murder-suicide.
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. As of October 2014, there is no media update on this case.
Father: WILLIAM R.WILLIAMS
Victim(s): Brodie Williams (4 years), Marley Williams (2 years)
Date of Death: March 2015
Despite previous evidence of controlling, abusive behavior, father apparently had court-ordered joint custody. Children apparently shot to death just prior to a police standoff in which the father allegedly committed suicide.
Harrison County
Father: TONY KING
Victim(s): Jeremiah Lamm (7 years)
Date of Death: January 2012
In May 2013, custodial father convicted of 1st-degree murder, arson in death of son. Previous allegations of abuse where ignored or unsubtantiated.
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. In October 2012, father found dead in his jail cell.
Father: STEWART THOMAS BREEDS II
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 lived in St. Louis. As of October 2014, no update to this case is reported in the media.
Jackson County
Father: DEONTE BARNETT
Victim(s): Aubrie (less than 1 year)
Date of Death: February 2014
Father appears to have had full custody of the girl from infancy despite "severe" drug problem and homelessness. Despite confessing to police that he smothered the girl to death in February, father not arrested on involuntary manslaughter charges until August 2014. Even when the child was just one month of age, father had apparently fallen asleep on her and broken her leg. CPS just made him sign a contract promising not to do that again. No word on what happened to the mother of this infant or how or why this father was able to assume and retain custody.
Jasper County
Father: ALBERT STEVEN O'CONNOR
Victim(s): Emalata Hoeft (2 years)
Date of Death: August 2015
Father obtained joint custody in California before doing moveaway to Missouri. Apparently shut off contact with mother.
Jefferson County
Father: JAMELL JOHNSON
Victim(s): Aliyah McFarlane (20 months)
Date of Death: September 2012
Father did not live with mother. Daughter killed during his visitation time. Father has confessed to abusing the child.
St. Louis County
Father: AARON LUCY
Victim(s): Kyle (2 years)
Date of Death: December 2010
Father convicted of 1st-degree murder during visitation.
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.