harrisonsdream
11-30-2007, 07:21 PM
DNA test confirms identity of Baby Grace
By HARVEY RICE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
GALVESTON — DNA testing confirms that the child known as Baby Grace, whose body was found in a box on a sand bar in West Galveston Bay, is 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers, the Galveston County Sheriff's Office said Friday.
Sheriff's investigators received laboratory results Friday showing a match in DNA samples from the body discovered Oct. 29 by a fisherman and samples from Riley's father and mother.
Riley's mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 19, and her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, both of Spring, are in Galveston County Jail in lieu of $350,000 bail each on charges of injury to a child and evidence tampering.
Riley's father, Robert Sawyers, 20, of Painesville, Ohio, and Trenor were not married.
Although Trenor confirmed to investigators Nov. 24 that Riley was Baby Grace, the DNA match gives investigators scientific evidence proving the identity that can be used in court, the Sheriff's Office said.
Police say Trenor has told investigators that she and Zeigler beat Riley with a belt July 24, held her head under water in a bathtub, that Zeigler hurled her onto a tile floor, and that her face was pushed into a pillow and couch.
She said Riley's body was placed in a plastic container and stored for up to two months in a garage before it was tossed into West Galveston Bay.
Galveston County District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk has said he could ask a grand jury to return capital murder charges, depending on the results of a continuing investigation.
If convicted of injury to a child, they would face a sentence of five years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If convicted of evidence tampering, they would face a sentence of two to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000.
By HARVEY RICE
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
GALVESTON — DNA testing confirms that the child known as Baby Grace, whose body was found in a box on a sand bar in West Galveston Bay, is 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers, the Galveston County Sheriff's Office said Friday.
Sheriff's investigators received laboratory results Friday showing a match in DNA samples from the body discovered Oct. 29 by a fisherman and samples from Riley's father and mother.
Riley's mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 19, and her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, both of Spring, are in Galveston County Jail in lieu of $350,000 bail each on charges of injury to a child and evidence tampering.
Riley's father, Robert Sawyers, 20, of Painesville, Ohio, and Trenor were not married.
Although Trenor confirmed to investigators Nov. 24 that Riley was Baby Grace, the DNA match gives investigators scientific evidence proving the identity that can be used in court, the Sheriff's Office said.
Police say Trenor has told investigators that she and Zeigler beat Riley with a belt July 24, held her head under water in a bathtub, that Zeigler hurled her onto a tile floor, and that her face was pushed into a pillow and couch.
She said Riley's body was placed in a plastic container and stored for up to two months in a garage before it was tossed into West Galveston Bay.
Galveston County District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk has said he could ask a grand jury to return capital murder charges, depending on the results of a continuing investigation.
If convicted of injury to a child, they would face a sentence of five years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. If convicted of evidence tampering, they would face a sentence of two to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000.