GUILTY IN - Christian Choate, 13, starved, beaten to death, Gary, April 2009

[mysteriew]

Bessie I have no problem with anyone stating their opinions. LOL I stated mine. But thank you for being so gentle about disagreeing with me.

 

[Cubby]

I too was alarmed by the sisters comment 'he had problems'. It's difficult for me to understand why she felt it necessary to add that comment. Not being a psychiatrist or psychologist - my best laymans guess is perhaps this is some way her mind is justifying her participation. Maybe seperating any herself from any responsibility? Maybe a way to justify (at least to herself) why he deserved such treatment? She had to have some kind of compassion in order for her to finally come forward and tell her mother.... that gives me hope she is not beyond help.

Regardless she and the other children who resided in that home and had to witness such horror are likely permanently changed by those events. For them to overcome the emotional scars and not repeat the behavior will be extremely challenging. We can only hope they get the help they need. Regardless it is heartbreaking they had to witness such behavior by the adults entrusted to care for them.

 

[Cubby]

As Sullivan read they various penalties they could face, Kubina buried her face in her hands. They face up to 65 years in prison

Prosecutor Bernard Carter said the investigation is continuing and others may be charged.

http://www.suntimes.com/5321519-417...ith-abusing-killing-and-burying-gary-boy.html




Only up to 65 years? What then does it take to get life in Indiana? :furious: I'm shocked this crime doesn't warrant life.

I hope others are charged, and poor KK (not!) burying her head in her hands. Even in prison she won't be subjected to the horrors she inflicted on Christian.

 

[KindraLore]

Video of Alyssa Nieto, Christian's Stepsister (Kim's daughter)


http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Gary-Teen-Died-in-Locked-Cage-Stepsister-121571219.html?rr=td

 

[KindraLore]

Video of Alyssa Nieto, Christian's Stepsister (Kim's daughter)


http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Gary-Teen-Died-in-Locked-Cage-Stepsister-121571219.html?rr=td

Whoops. Sorry, after reading another article, I think she is Christian's half sister... I dunno. Im confused.

"Alyssa Nieto, 18, who identified herself as Christian's half-sister, said she was separated from Christian and her sister when those two went to live with their biological father.

"I've been so shut off from my brother and sister," she said. "I feel like ... there are no words really. I feel really betrayed by the system that took Christian and Christina away from us and put them into a monster's hands. I feel a lot of anger. Christian is my brother and I knew one day we'd be reunited, but it wasn't supposed to be like this."
Nieto said she doesn't understand how Choate got custody of Christian. "He's a convicted felon and he got custody. How could they give kids to a murderer?" she said, swallowing her emotions. "I'm happy he's arrested. He should be put away."
Choate has a criminal history that includes battery, harassment and auto theft, according to court records. He was arrested at his girlfriend's house in Hammond."

http://articles.chicagobreakingnews...ogical-mother-biological-father-death-scene/2

 

[MorenoI]

I thought A.N is the daughter of Christian's bio mom.

 

[KindraLore]

I thought A.N is the daughter of Christian's bio mom.

She is. I was confused because the article under the video described her as Christina's stepsister.

 

[KindraLore]

Here is the explanation of why Christina finally broke her silence after two years:

"Christina Choate said she finally broke her silence recently when she felt safe enough to tell a relative what had happened to Christian. She said her father moved her to Kentucky with her stepmother and half-siblings after Christian's death. She said she wasn't allowed to go to school, talk on the phone or live anything resembling the normal life of a teenage girl. About three weeks ago, Riley Choate moved back to Indiana without her, she said."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42980160/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

 

[x_files]

Riley Lowell Choate (left), 39, and Kimberly Leona Kubina (center), are accused of keeping Christian Choate (right) in a dog cage with seven locks for more than a year before he died in April of 2009. His body was unearthered from a shallow grave in Gary last week. (Lake County Sheriff photos)


Murder charges have been filed against the father and stepmother of a 13-year-old boy who died two years ago but whose body was unearthered from a shallow grave in Gary just last week.

Riley Lowell Choate, 39, and Kimberly Leona Kubina, 45, are accused of keeping Christian Choate in a dog cage with seven locks for more than a year before he died in April of 2009. They are both charged with murder, battery, neglect and criminal confinement.

An affidavit filed with the charges details how the boy was regularly abused and how the couple forced his older sister, 15 at the time, to feed him, take him to the bathroom and see that he did exercises.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...ied-locked-in-a-cage-20110510,0,6201053.story

Such ugly despicable people. RIP Christian.

 

[x_files]

I bet by the end of it, there will be more charges to others that knew what horrific things this boy endured and frankly I think the sister should face charges as well.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/article_d2463064-39c7-5e79-a522-7e02b542fb28.html

Sniped from article:
"Two witnesses allege Christina hit her brother with a metal pole. The girl denies striking her brother with anything other than her hands. She said she would beat him if he got mouthy with her or if she was instructed to do so by her father or stepmother."

""I love my brother, don't get me wrong," she said. "But he had problems."

"On a night Riley Choate went to work, the girl alleges her father and Kimberly told her to chain Christian to a bed frame leaning against a dresser. Christina admitted to chaining Christian's hands and feet to the 6-foot bed frame while striking him and choking him until he turned blue, according to the affidavit. She later denied choking him."

"The next morning, while in the trailer with Kimberly and Kimberly's sister, Belinda Bradburn, and a cousin, Christina tried to feed Christian some cold cereal, she told authorities. He refused to eat so she slapped him across the face twice and put him back into the cage, eventually noticing he was not breathing, she said."



A lot more details at the link. This story truly breaks my heart. This boy was tortured!

I agree she participated in the sadist abuse, she should face charges as well.

 

[Cubby]

An Indiana couple both pleaded not guilty this morning to the alleged abuse and death of a 13-year-old boy found buried under concrete in a Gary mobile park.

<snip>


Choate's attorney Randy Godshalk has asked that all the charges against his client be dismissed because prosecutors are unable to provide specific dates that the alleged abuse and murder took place. Because the state's filing alleges the crime took place during a two-year period, the allegations fail to conform to the requirement of law and lack specificity, Godshalk said.


full article at link

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-killing-abusing-boy-20110517,0,2952575.story

I came here hoping to see if any additional persons were charged, particularly the Aunt.

I found the above link and immediately thought oh really, the alleged abuse? Then my heart sank thinking these to cowards are going to throw Christina under the bus and I immediately prayed she has the strength and support to testify. Then I wondered if perhaps the Aunt might testify and get herself some kind of deal. As for the defense attorney's comments anything I would like to say I probably shouldn't -Don't need to have the post removed or a time out.

No word on who is representing KK.

 

[KindraLore]

An Indiana couple both pleaded not guilty this morning to the alleged abuse and death of a 13-year-old boy found buried under concrete in a Gary mobile park.

<snip>


Choate's attorney Randy Godshalk has asked that all the charges against his client be dismissed because prosecutors are unable to provide specific dates that the alleged abuse and murder took place. Because the state's filing alleges the crime took place during a two-year period, the allegations fail to conform to the requirement of law and lack specificity, Godshalk said.


full article at link

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...-killing-abusing-boy-20110517,0,2952575.story

Respectfully snipped.

This is ridiculous. There have been plenty of previous abuse cases that ended in conviction in which true dates were not known when the abuse was repeated over a long period of time. How about their dates were for at least two years, every day of this poor boy's life?

There are also murder cases in which they cannot pinpoint an exact date as to when the victim was murdered. I don't see this in being an issue, do any of you?

 

[Cubby]

I don't see it being an issue. When I initially read it I thought it sounded like it was coming out of left field. A kind of let's throw everything at the wall and see what sticks approach - but time will tell.

 

[bessie]

I'm not concerned. The defense attorney is just doing what defense lawyers do. Using ridiculous arguments to downplay the validity of the charges and asking that they be dropped are common defense tactics. (Nevertheless, it's always sickening to read these statements because they're so disrespectful to the victims.) Godshalk knows it won't happen, but he has to at least try.

There's no way these two are going to get away with this. Christian's remains will provide part of the truth, witnesses will fill in the rest. Based on earlier articles, I'm pretty sure eyewitness testimony from one or more of his half-siblings will be used to build the case against the responsible parties. I was hoping to see charges against the aunt by now, too, and somewhat expected to see charges against Christina. Since neither has been charged, then I agree one, or both, might cut a deal.

 

[KindraLore]

Latest news. Burial for Christian delayed as Defense wants a separate autopsy done.

Also new charges against both filed:

"Prosecutors filed amended charges that add new counts, including neglect of a dependent for depriving Christian and his 17-year-old sister of an education between Jan. 1, 2007 and May 4, 2011. Prosecutors also added four counts of obstruction of justice that allege Choate and Kubina moved Christian&#8217;s body from the scene and buried it, that they removed and later burned shed flooring for the burial of Christian&#8217;s body and removed the dog cage that witnesses said Christian lived in every day for more than one year. In addition, Choate, who has two prior unrelated felony convictions for auto theft in Lake County, faces up to an additional 30-year sentence after prosecutors filed an habitual offender sentencing enhancement request."

http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/5...hoates-burial-delayed-by-autopsy-request.html

 

[KindraLore]

From legal documents I pulled.

"State files notice of 3rd party subpoena and motion for handwriting exemplar."

I wonder what the deal is with the handwriting.

Also, Riley has an extensive record:

- 06-24-1991 Converted Data Violation (I have no idea what this is.. do any of you?)
- 05-20-1994 Driving While Suspended
- 12-30-1991 False Reporting
- 09-19-1990 Converted Data Violation
- 10-17-1990 Auto Theft
- 10-03-1992 Battery
- 04-07-1994 Converted Data Violation
- 01-28-1998 Auto Theft
- 09-19-1990 Illegal Transportation of an Alcoholic Beverage On a Public Highway
- 07-27-1990 Resisting Law Enforcement

There were more but just minor infractions, along with a few civil suits and one foreclosure..

 

[mysteriew]

Riley and Kimberly Choate, charged with murder and other counts in the death of 13-year-old Christian Choate, made a second court appearance Tuesday, entering formal pleas of not guilty.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/gary/article_c853e392-e74b-5a81-8ee4-c29b5c831f69.html

 

[bessie]

I'm curious about the handwriting samples, too. I can't think of any details we've heard so far where handwriting played a part. They go to court on Tuesday for the hearing, so maybe we'll find out then. Sooner would be nice.

 

[tlcya]

Well, we know he was buried with a bible, perhaps he was also buried with a note or some handwritten item?

 

[reen]

The handwriting samples might also have something to do with school paperwork, since part of the child neglect charges are based on their being pulled out of school.

My heart just bleeds for this boy and the pain that consumed his life...