GUILTY WA - Summer Lytle, 4, tortured to death, Spokane, 10 March 2007

[gaia227]

Yes, in this case I think you are right. She was doomed from the beginning. It just got me thinking about all the awful stories we hear of abusive parents, drug-addict parents who neglect their children, mothers who ignore their daughters claims of sexual abuse, or in this case a mother who pawned her daughter off on her ex-husband and then never came back to get her. It is heartbreaking.

 

[anthrobones]

Dear God this is absolutely sickening! Why are stupid people allowed to "breed"? Why?

 

[Taximom]

Adriana's mother speaks:
http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=8465259

SPOKANE -- Adriana Lytle's mother says the public's image of her daughter as a monster is not only inconsistent with the person she knows but is inconsistent with the facts of the case that led to four year-old Summer Phelps' death.
"She didn't inflict the injuries that caused Summer to die," Adriana's mother, Cynthia said.
Cynthia lives on the East Coast - far from Adriana - and is largely telling the story through her daughter's eyes. But she also says she's looked into the facts and believes Adriana's story to be the truth.

(much more plus video at link)

 

[Taximom]

The video is interesting. Adriana's (aka "Andi") father was abusive and a Hell's Angel. He beat A's mom when she was 7.5 mos pregnant and Adriana was born prematurely because of that. Apparently she's raising baby Jonathan.

There are more vivid details about the abuse of Summer on the video. I seriously want to throw up.

 

[philamena]

For those who didn't follow the case.

 

[Liz]

Jonathan Lytle's attorneys have filed a motion asking that the judge bar any testimony about Summer Phelps being sexually assaulted.

http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=8547918

The way the article reads, sure sounds like sexual abuse to me.

 

[Taximom]

What?! Nice try by the defense. **rolling eyes**

 

[Liz]

I'm pretty sure I heard that Adriana Lytle is supposed to be in court today and is also supposed to plead guilty.

I'll see if I can find a link.

 

[Liz]

Here's the link to the KXLY news story. Adriana is expected to plead guilty. We'll see if she does, or if she backs out again.

http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=8707631

 

[SewingDeb]

Thanks for the link, Liz. It will be interesting to see what happens today.

 

[less0305]

Looks like she pled guilty...
http://www.kxly.com/global/story.asp?s=8708402

 

[Liz]

Stepmother pleads guilty in Spokane child's death
Page updated at 02:50 PM

SPOKANE, Wash. —
The stepmother of a 4-year-old Spokane girl who died after what police called "vicious child abuse" pleaded guilty Monday to homicide by abuse.

Adriana Lytle, 33, likely faces 20 to 26 years in prison in the March 2007 death of Summer Phelps, who was repeatedly beaten, bitten and tortured.

The child's father, Jonathan Lytle, also faces homicide by abuse charges.

Investigators said in court papers that during the seven months she lived with her father and stepmother in an apartment, the girl suffered severe abuse that bordered on torture. She was made to wear a dog shock collar, suffered burns to her face, a bite mark and extensive bruising over her upper torso, court documents said.

More at link, including listings of numerous reports of Summer's abuse to the state.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008064278_apwachildsdeath1stldwritethru.html


This is one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing cases that I've followed. I can honestly say that I am actually relieved to know that little Summer is in a much better place now than she probably ever was in life. She never stood a chance.

 

[Ciara]

Twenty to twenty six years is just not good enough. I seriously dont think they should ever get out again when they kill a child. I think they should forfeit ALL right to freedom when they do something so vile. I really would just lock them up and throw away the key

 

[Liz]

Prosecution: Lytle isn't mentally ill, just difficult

SPOKANE -- A Spokane County judge ruled that Jonathan Lytle is competent to stand trial.

The man is charged with homicide by abuse in the death of his 4 year old daughter, Summer Phelps. His wife, Adriana Lytle is also charged with her murder.

Lytle was escorted into court with extra security Monday morning as he has been a handful for both the jail's staff and his own attorneys. Then before proceedings got underway, Lytle's motion to have both the paperwork in support of his mental health problems and the courtroom sealed was denied.

Dr. Randall Strandquist, a clinical psychologist from Eastern State Hospital, was the first to testify on behalf of the prosecution Monday and said that Lytle is competent to stand trial.

Strandquist noted that Lytle has antisocial personality disorder and is narcissistic, but has no disease or defect that will keep him from being able to understand proceedings and assist in his defense. Strandquist summed up his testimony Monday by saying he doesn't believe Lytle is mentally ill, just difficult.

"It's my opinion that he's choosing to be difficult in this case and basically making a statement that you can try me but I'm not going to participate, but it's his choice," Dr. Strandquist said.

More:
http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=8971635&nav=menu683_1


Snippets from
Lytle's request for change of venue denied
Posted: Sep 9, 2008 11:54 AM PDT

SPOKANE -- During Tuesday's pre-trial motions the court refused Jonathan Lytle's request for a change of venue for his upcoming homicide-by-abuse trial.

While his wife Adriana has confessed to her role in the death of her husband's daughter Summer, Jonahtan Lytle has fought a delaying action through every step of the pre-trial hearings leading up to his trial coming up in October. He has even gone so far as to place the blame on the death of his daughter on the doctors who cared for her just before she died in March of 2007.

Read in entirety:
http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=8978824


Man ruled competent for trial in child's death

SPOKANE -- A Spokane County judge has ruled that Jonathan Lytle is competent to stand trial on a charge of homicide by abuse in the death of his 4-year-old daughter.

He is charged in the death of little Summer Phelps in March 2007. Lytle's trial is scheduled to start Oct. 13.

More:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/378362_childdeath10.html

What an evil excuse for a human being!

 

[Kiki]

What a beautiful little girl. It is such a tragedy she was entrusted to the care of two embodiments of evil. Those two make Freddy Krueger look sweet and affectionate. I hope their fellow prisoners find out what they did.

 

[Liz]

Doctor recounts girl's injuries
Summer Phelps was so bruised he assumed she was a cancer patient, ER doctor says
November 3, 2008


When Summer Phelps was brought to the emergency room on March 10, 2007, the treating physician thought the 4-year-old was a cancer patient because of her injuries, according to testimony this morning in the homicide-by-abuse trial of her father, Jonathan Lytle.

Dr. Darrol C. Hval, an emergency room physician at Deaconess Medical Center, said the 45-pound child was covered from head to toe with purple bruises and large chunks of her long red hair were missing.

“She was purple everywhere — I thought she was a cancer child,” Hval said under questioning from Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Larry Steinmetz.

Shortly after 11:32 that night, when Lytle walked in with her, a half-dozen medical experts scrambled to try to revive the comatose child, Hval said. “There were no signs of breathing — we couldn’t find a pulse,” the doctor said.

After about 20 minutes, the doctors and nurses gave up, concluding the child was dead when she arrived at the hospital.

“What impression did this have upon you?” Steinmetz asked.

“That the child was beat up,” Hval added.

Hval said it was the worst case of child abuse he’d seen in 15 years as a physician — and it was so traumatic that counselors had to be brought in to comfort the people who failed to revive Summer.

More at link:
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=17539

I heard on the news earlier, that one of Summer's attending nurses (male nurse) threw up after seeing how badly abused Summer's little body was.

There is no way I'lll ever understand how a parent can abuse any child like this, much less 'their own'!

RIP, dear little Summer! May you rot in hell, Jonathan!

 

[Liz]

Opening statements in Lytle case begin
Updated: Nov 3, 2008 10:27 PM PST

SPOKANE -- Opening statements in the Jonathan Lytle homicide by abuse trial began Monday in a Spokane County courtroom with the prosecution coming out swinging.

The prosecution told the jury that 4-year-old Summer Phelps had 130 bruises, 106 contusions and had been shocked, bitten and beaten.

This was also the first time the prosecution revealed the young girl was dead before she arrived at Deaconess Medical Center and that she was beyond resuscitation.

More at link:
http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=9285335&nav=menu683_2_7

I agree with the commenters at KXLY -- these two monsters should be put in general pop and let the prisoners do to them, some of what they did to little Summer!

 

[Bobbisangel]

Does anyone know what kind of a sentence the Pros is asking? I hope it is murder 1 among a lot of other charges. That poor little girl. Her mother dumps her on those abusive people who didn't want her either. I can't read the article. It is just to awful. I wish Tru TV was covering this trial. If this couple were put in general population they wouldn't last a day...put them in there and save Washington state a ton of money. She will go to Purdy...the only women's prison... and he will go to Walla Walla or Monroe would be my guess. I know a guard at Monroe. If he is sent there maybe I can find out how he is doing!!

 

[gaia227]

I think they are being charged with Homicide by Abuse which carries a 20-26 yr sentence. I cannot believe that you can torture a 4 yr old little girl to death who sustained injuries that are being described by trauma nurses as the worst they have ever seen and not immediately recieve the death penalty.

So many people failed this little girl. Numerous reports were made to child services one of them from a day care professional and nothing was done. I had a friend who had a small daycare out of her house and one of the toddlers she baby-sat would have bruises on his body that were oddly shaped. The parents would also drop him off with really dirty bottles with curdled dried milk stuck all over it. One time they sent him with a bottle full of soda. She called child services several times to report suspected abuse and neglect. They never ONCE came to her house to assess the child.

When I look at that women's ugly face and think about the things she did to Summer the violent thoughts that go through my head are a little frightening.

 

[raysgirl1126]

OH MY GOSH! I can't even believe this. Today is the first time i've read of this case, and I feel so sick on my stomach. What horrible, horrible people.