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

[bessie]

This is a Chicago Tribune article from May 3rd with more details.

Prosecutors have agreed to drop a charge of murder and 10 other felony counts filed against Kimberly Kubina last year after the body of her 13-year-old step son, Christian Choate, was discovered buried in a Gary trailer park in 2011.

Kubina, 46, now faces only a single count of neglect of a dependent, and has agreed to take the stand against Choate, whom she divorced from jail in December. Kubina faces a sentence of 25 to 35 years on the remaining charge, according to the plea agreement

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/..._kubina-and-choate-plea-agreement-younger-boy
Much more at the link

A single count of neglect. It's maddening. She witnessed the daily beatings for over two years and looked at Christian confined in that cage every day and night for months. She made him wear diapers and controlled his meager diet. And when he died, she bought the cement and lime, and placed his body in trash bags!

I don't know anything about the sentencing laws in Indiana, but I'll be surprised if she spends 25 months in prison for a single count of neglect of a dependent. Plea deal or not, she's just as much a murderer as Riley Choate. IMO.

 

[tlcya]

I am very disappointed Bessie. Very.

All I can figure is, prosecution must think her testimony against Choate is pretty damning and crucial to their case. Why they felt they had to go this route is a mystery. I would have thought they would have plenty of evidence to convict BOTH and not need to fold to such a deal.

 

[tlcya]

Attorneys for Riley Choate say the Indiana man "less than satisfied" with a plea bargain by prosecutors in the murder case of his son Christian Choate. Apparently Choate isn't happy with the 86-year prison term associated with the deal.

http://chicagoist.com/2012/07/18/riley_choate_rejects_plea_deal_in_m.php

 

[tlcya]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_46d9e5af-db98-5e49-9874-669ca73d578c.html

The defense lawyer for Riley L. Choate, 40, will get an additional two months to prepare for what is expected to be an emotional and convoluted case in which Choate family members will be the star prosecution witnesses and come under intense cross-examination to shake their credibility.

The trial will begin Oct. 9.

 

[tlcya]

I haven't forgotten Christian.

 

[tlcya]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_a707b20e-6b4b-5281-b874-58067015a31b.html

State Rep. Shelli VanDenburgh, D-Crown Point, said she hopes the committee will focus on areas where DCS needs to improve, rather than on its proclaimed successes.

She questioned the state agency's success this spring during a community meeting in Merrillville.

VanDenburgh pointed to the beating death of 10-year-old Tramelle Sturgis in November in South Bend. She said DCS officials also should have been able to save 13-year-old Christian Choate, whose severely malnourished body was unearthed in May 2011 from a shallow grave in a Gary mobile home park.

 

[bessie]

Thanks, tlcox, for keeping us up to date on Christian's case.

And to those following, don't forget that Riley Choates trial is scheduled to begin October 9th.

The trial will begin Oct. 9.

Riley Choate is pleading not guilty to allegations his abuse and neglect caused the death of Christian Choate, 13, whose body was found May 4, 2011, buried in a shallow grave beneath the soil and concrete floor of a mobile home storage shed in Gary's Black Oak neighborhood.


http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_46d9e5af-db98-5e49-9874-669ca73d578c.html

 

[tlcya]

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_54902c7a-57f8-5aa4-9fa3-4c77d794965b.html

The boy's body has been in the possession of the Lake County coroner. On Friday, Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell ordered the body to be released to his mother, identified as Aimee Eriks in court records.

The boy's maternal grandfather, Bernard Eriks, had requested the boy's remains if Boswell ruled against his daughter.

In a letter to Boswell, Bernard Eriks said the boy held a special place in his and his wife's hearts due to their having raised the boy the first couple years of his life.

Just makes me so sad for Christian. IN his short life it sounds as if he never really knew stability, moving from parent to grandparent to other parent. And then to be subjected to what he was.

I had no idea his remains had not yet been released. May he rest peacefully wherever his final resting place.

 

[bessie]

I didn't know Christian's remains had not been released. Oooohhhh...this makes my heart sick. WTH! Will Christian finally be laid properly to rest? I hope his mother is able to provide a decent funeral with LOTS OF PICTURES of Christian.

Of all the thousands of threads on this board, for me, Christian's story is the saddest. I don't think anyone really loved little him.

And Riley's trial has been delayed again!

Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell on Monday appointed the public defender's office the lone counsel for Riley Choate, delaying Choate's murder trial to January.

At the conclusion of the 45-minute hearing, Boswell agreed to continue the trial to Jan. 7, release Godshalk and hold a hearing Oct. 17 on witness testimony.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/...cle_722b6325-65ed-54c0-91e5-b9481cfe6308.html

 

[Wondergirl]

I agree, Bessie, and I guess you articulated what I was thinking.

Precious Christian was not loved by anyone, and it just hurts my heart to think of the cruelty to which he was subject to.

Rest in peace, sweet innocent child. :-(

 

[leanaí]

I wish I knew you in life Christian, so I could show you all the love I hold for you in my heart.

 

[tlcya]

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/indiana&id=8920596

Riley Choate showed no emotion Friday as he pleaded guilty to multiple charges.

He faces an agreed term of 80 years in prison.

 

[bessie]

Justice served, but it's no compensation for what that poor little boy endured.

Rest in Peace, Christian.

 

[Wondergirl]

I am not sure if it is justice, but, at least the will be in a cage himself the rest of his life.

Rest in Peace, Christian, I know your life in heaven will not compare to those days you spent on earth.

 

[buffetoflies]

Today would have been his 17th birthday.

 

[Moxie Vi]

Dad gets 80 years = sentencing finally happened. The stepmother will be released in February.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/11/16469549-father-sentenced-80-years-in-death-of-son-who-was-kept-in-cage?lite

 

[mikeysmommom]

Dad gets 80 years = sentencing finally happened. The stepmother will be released in February.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/11/16469549-father-sentenced-80-years-in-death-of-son-who-was-kept-in-cage?lite

She deserved the same 80 years in jail. I hope someone gets to her and she does not leave that jail alive. I have now lost all beliefs in our current justice system.The system failed this child over and over again then makes sure to do it once again by letting her out in Feb.Years ago when Dahmer was killed and I read that the victims families might have taken a collection and paid for him to be killed and I thought if true they all are almost as bad as he was.Now I understand how badly the system does fail the victims in about 90% of the times...........................Just saying.

 

[MissJ]

I'm just heart sick. This poor child.

 

[buffetoflies]

Christian's pain is over, MissJ. He is a much better place.

 

[Wondergirl]

Dad gets 80 years = sentencing finally happened. The stepmother will be released in February.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/11/16469549-father-sentenced-80-years-in-death-of-son-who-was-kept-in-cage?lite

Is this actually correct?

His step-mother will be released in February?

WTF? :furious::furious::furious::furious::furious::furious: