@NCAnalyzer,
This is an interesting perspective you have posted and I think it does tie to what I've said above. That the details of the divorce battle are really negligible. Primary is the fact that any number of things could have triggered a rage that was taken out on poor Dylan.
I am not saying MR did anything to Dylan. I am pointing out that this information supports any MR Did It theories as providing a motive and making it seem possible for a father to kill his child. IMO.
your post inspired me to do some more research and i found the following stats and examples from around the country:
According to FBI STATS *mothers and fathers killed 10331 of their own children under the age of 5 from. 1976 - 2005: * * * * *
Link:*
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbse&sid=31
250 - 300 children are killed every year so 1 out every 33 murders is a parent killing their children under age 18.
Link: *
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18151310?stopRedirect=true*
The following are some example cases of fathers who have killed their children for reasons of custody, child support or alimony:
Link: *
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2011/02/175-killer-dads-fathers-who-ended-their.html?
175 Killer Dads: Fathers who ended their children's lives in situations involving child custody, visitation, and/or child support (USA)
ALABAMA*
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
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
Father: JOHN DEBLASE
Victim(s): Natalie Deblase (4 years), Chase Deblase (3 years)
Date of Death: Unclear. Bodies located in December 2010 after children hadnt been seen for months.
Father was apparently custodial at the time of childrens deaths. Both father, girlfriend are charged with murder
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 boys murder. Father on trial in November 2010
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 pleads not guilty, with trial scheduled for August 2011.
ARIZONA
*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.
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: 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 mothers suit against the police.
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
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
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: 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.
*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
Father: ADRIAN RAMON MCGRATH
Victim(s): Jeremiah McGrath (3 years)
Date of Death: March 2010
Son beaten to death in home of father.
*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.
Father: DENNIS POTTS
Victim(s): Tori Vienneau (22 years), Dean Springtube (10 months)
Date of Death: July 2006
Father is convicted September 2009 in the murders of his former girlfriend and son. Father didn't want to take paternity test, pay child support.
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.
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. Girls remains found in former homes crawl space in May 2010. In November 2010, Father, girlfriend both charged in girls death, ordered to trial.
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. Fathers next court appearance scheduled for January 2011.
CONNECTICUT
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
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.
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
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 w. 2nd-degree murder
*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.
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.
Father: CHAUNCEY ROBINSON
Victim(s): Chavon Robinson (22 months)
Date of Death: February 2008
Father convicted in December 2009 of murdering child during visitation.
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: 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.
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 reports.
Father: ROOSEVELT BRADLEY II
Victim(s): Roosevelt Bradley III (8 months)
Date of Death: August 2009
Father arrested for murder of infant during visitation
Father: MELVIN ORTIZ
Victim(s): Unnamed Son (5 years)
Date of Death: July 2009
Son beaten to death while visiting father, stepmother.
*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 Nelson Camacho (10 years) 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: 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 2009
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
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.
Father: JAMALL DECARLOS MATHIS
Victim(s): Jamari 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.
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
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
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: 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.
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
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.
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.
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 boys murder.
*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.
Father: CHIDI ESI
Victim(s): Nathan Esi (19 months)
Date of Death: October 2009
Father accused of drowning son during visitation.
INDIANA
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.
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: 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.
KANSAS
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 custody"
KENTUCKY
*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.
LOUISIANA
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.
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
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.
Father: DANNY PLATT
Victim: Ja'Shawn (2 years)
Date of Death: January 2010
Father arrested in murder of son during weekend visitation; alleged that father had been trying to avoid paying back child support.
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
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
*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: 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.
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.
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: 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
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.
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. Has apparently confessed to killing the boy, but no criminal conviction. Body has not been found
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.
MICHIGAN
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 storiesthat 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.
Father: JEFF WOLFENBARGER
Victim(s): Lily Furneaux-Wolfenbarger (2 years)
Date of Death: November 2010
Parents shared custody. Stepmom suspected in girls death.
*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
*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.
*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.
MINNESOTA
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.
MISSOURI
Father: CLINTON GALLAGHER
Victim(s): Alex Gallagher (6 years)
Date of Death: December 2010
Father kills son in murder suicide after judge ignored mothers 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
Father: KYLE BAYLOR
Victim(s): Vaniessa 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.
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
NEVADA
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.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
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.
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, in critical condition.
NEW MEXICO
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.
*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 mothers concerns dismissed by judge.
NEW YORK
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.
Father: FRANKLIN HANKERSON
Victim(s): Khliff Taylor Hankerson (5 years)
Date of Death: April 2010
Son killed in murder-suicide during visitation.
Father: JAMES E. KENT
Victim(s); Joshua Kent (3 years)
Date of Death: March 2005
Sole custody father beats son to death.
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."
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.
*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 two orders of protection.
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, 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.
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.
NORTH CAROLINA
Father: ADAM BAKER
Victim(s): Zahra Baker (10 years)
Date of Death: Fall 2010
Step currently charged in girls murder. Custodial father has not been charged, though girl was apparently repeatedly abused in the home. Father relocated from Australia
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
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.
OKLAHOMA
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, girls 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 girls mother.
OHIO
Father: ANTHONY JOHNSON
Victim(s) Anthony Johnson Jr.
Date of Death: August 2009
Father accused of beating child to death during visitation *
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
*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
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.
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
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.
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.
PENNSYLVANIA
*Father: STEPHEN S. DIXON
Victim(s): Jayahn Cox-Phoenix
Date of Death: May 2010
Parents had no formal custody agreement. Father played no role in childs life until January 2010. Father allowed visitation by mother. In March 2010, father refused to return child or allow maternal contact. Moms 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 services.*
SOUTH CAROLINA
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.*
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.
TENNESSEE
*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. Childrens 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.
Father: SEAN LEIFER
Victim(s): Gage Leifer (9 months)
Date of Death: December 2009
In November 2010, father charged with murder. Boys death took place during fathers holiday visitation.
TEXAS
Father: DUKE WATROUS
Victim(s): Ashley Watrous (10 years)
Date of Death: December 2009
Custodial father charged in shooting death.
*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.*
*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.
Father: ROBERT NUNEZ
Victim(s): Miguel Angel Nunez (18 moths)
Date of Death: 2004
Father had custody at the time of the babys disappearance. Mom was scheduled to get custody back due to custodial interference. Body not found until December 2010.
UTAH
*Father: CLINTON HART
Victim(s): Vanessa Medina (4 years)
Date of Death: June 2010
Dad got custody of child as part of messy divorce. Took children from Oregon to Utah. One and a half years later, father charged with felony murder. In October 2010, father pleaded not guilty.
WEST VIRGINIA
*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
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
