Home > Crime > Two Teens Charged After Girl, 5, Found Dead Inside Garbage Can

Two Teens Charged After Girl, 5, Found Dead Inside Garbage Can

August 29, 2012 at 3:50 pm by Morbid

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. – Two teenage boys have been charged in connection to the murder of 5-year-old Isabella Tennant.

The girl was spending the night at her great-grandmother’s house when 16-year-old John Freeman allegedly killed Bella with his bare hands. Her official cause of death was listed as mechanical obstruction of the airway and compression of the neck. There were no signs of sexual assault.

After he killed Bella, he placed her body in a garbage bag and had one of his friends, 18-year-old Tyler Best, help place the little girl’s body in a garbage can three streets away. Best ended up going to police the next day and showing police where Bella’s body had been stashed.

Freeman was arrested and charged second-degree murder while Best was charged with tampering with evidence. Both have pleaded not guilty when they appeared in court on Tuesday and ordered back to jail until their Sept. 7 court date.

Bella’s mother, Crystal Walker, told reporters that she was working late that night at a sports bar, and that Freeman often took advantage of her grandmother’s kind heart. She said Freeman was a mooch and that even though she had often asked her grandmother not to let Freeman take advantage of her, her grandmother would still let Freeman stay in her home on occasion.

Police say Freeman showed up at the home Sunday night and killed Bella after her great grandmother went to bed. Walker says she wishes her grandmother had made Bella go to bed when she did, but does not blame her for her daughter’s death.

Tags: Crime, Isabella Tennant, John Freeman, Murder, New York

67 Comments

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Sam

The mom wishes grandma had made Bella go to bed when she did? That sounds like grandma went to bed and left the little girl in the care of a teenage boy of questionable repute. I don’t care if she wanted to see the good in him, the mom had made it clear she didn’t like the boy, so why on earth would you then let the mom’s most valuable loved one alone in that person’s care? Also, grandma has an earlier bedtime than a 5 year old?
http://www.facebook.com/michael.roe.397 Michael Roe

Two more pussies that need to be castrated. I would fucking kill these two assholes. Can’t wait to see them in hell.
http://www.facebook.com/dre.mosley Dre Mosley

I would disown granny.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=748002951 facebook-748002951

He doesn’t look real remorseful either, he needs to be PUT DOWN without remorse the same way he took the life of that little girl. But I bet you some bleeding heart will fight for him and whine about his being able to be rehabilitated etc… I’m sick after reading this, that poor little girl
rensuchan

Is it just me or does anyone else just think, “What a little asshat,” when looking at his face? I honestly want to just punch this little fucker.
http://www.facebook.com/Ms.Lily.Hex Lily Hex

I agree about the part of the Grandmother having an earlier bedtime than the 5 year old. The entire story read like the film “We need to talk about Kevin”. Mr Freeman sounds like a psychopath.
My_Mind_Speaks

I think this guy is the spawn of Satan himself…
I pray that there’s a welcoming committee in jail that’s awaiting his arrival…
He deserves everything he have this baby, and more…
pikeman

Second degree murder? That’s it? I have a better solution. Just put a bullet in his fucking head. After he’s found guilty, of course. We need due process. Then make his buddy watch, and televise it all across the country for other scumfucks thinking about doing this. Then, maybe more of this shit would be deterred, fucking scumbag piece of shit!
pikeman

Fucking A right, Roe. Let’s put these fucks on death row, Roe style! Especially that smug ass punk fucker, Freeman!
pikeman

Definitely! This is the one case I would not agree with Athena.
Athena

If you people see me as a bleeding heart, apparently I haven’t been getting my point across.

That said, it doesn’t really matter. Even if he’s sentenced as an adult, he can’t be executed, as the Supreme Court ruled that executing those who were minors at the time of the crime is unconstitutional. Apparently, the Supreme Court is full of “bleeding hearts”, too. Although, I find that particular label somewhat ironic, as it is typically those who come to the knee-jerk conclusion that the offender should die, no questions asked, who do so from their heart, whereas those who disagree tend to do so from their mind.
kimbev69

Wth is going on in our world
osteenq

He looks sort of like an “evil parallel universe” version of Justin Bieber.
http://www.facebook.com/michael.roe.397 Michael Roe

Fuck it. Bring them to Kentucky and we will hook one of them to some horses and make his boy watch.Then set his boy on fire and watch the fucker burn his way into hell.And that’s still to good for these pricks.BASTARDS!!
http://www.facebook.com/michael.roe.397 Michael Roe

I bet the asshole wasn’t thinking about the little girl they killed. Why should I feel bad for people that would do something so cowardly as this. They should die a cowards death.
gosuYanny

wow@them for arresting the guy who did the right thing and went to the police. Probably should’ve just kept his mouth shut.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sarah-Silcox-Martin/1460419094 Sarah Silcox Martin

The mother says her daughter was so excited about starting kindergarten that she packed her lunch already and it was in the fridge even though it didn’t start for 2 weeks. That broke my heart. I also have a soon to be kindergartner and the thought of someone compressing his little airway as he struggled to breathe…and for what purpose? So this kid could get some kind of sick enjoyment out of killing? It just breaks my heart. I feel so badly for this mother.
Pyncky

I have been wondering the same thing. It seems that stuff like this happens daily. I don’t know if humans are devolving into uncaring monsters or have they always been this way and we just know about it more since the advent of the internet. I don’t know why but I think it’s even worse that he didn’t assault her. At least if he had there would be some kind of motive even though a twisted one. I really wish I had never had children or grandchildren that have to live in this vile sewer that we lovingly call civilization.
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

It may just be me… but if my friend ever asked me to help stuff a dead 5-year-old girl he murdered in a garbage bag, and then unload her body in a trash can down the street… well, I’d call the police right then, after I kicked his ass myself.

What his friend did was illegal, no matter if he had a change of heart the next day when he realized what kind of shit he was in and the heat got turned up. I wouldn’t worry about him too much, as he will turn state’s witness and get a sweet deal for testifying against Freeman.
Jacob

Agreed. Bullets are cheap and court is expensive, why even waste our time.
daffodil127

My daughter stared kindergarten today. Holy crap this story makes me ill.
captaingrumpy

Sounds like no one had any discipline in this house. The 5yr old tells them what and when she will do things and the teen is just a little shit and the mother gotta work to feed the lot. Where’s the father???
captaingrumpy

So those who agree with you are intelligent and those that disagree are too soft.
What a load of crock.
DMC_Vergil

“Humanity disgusts me.” Magneto, you couldn’t have said it any better. RIP to a child who didn’t even get to experience the pleasure of life, your life was stolen when you should have flourished in the world. Yes, Humanity, sometimes you do make me feel bitter.
sugarpie

God Bless you little Bella…. To hell with you John Freeman.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Cindy-Crawford/13964421 Cindy Crawford

I say that these two punks should be fed to the grizzly bear in the story below this one. And how the hell are you going to throw away a little girl like she was trash? And I don’t understand why the grandmother would allow some random teenage couch surfer to stay with her, especially when she’s caring for a very young granddaughter.
kimbev69

I feel the same way sometimes about what my children will deal with in the future it’s depressing
CT

Maybe he wouldn’t be so upset if they hadn’t made him wear that bad wig?
Andyman

And kind of looks like one too.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Rochell-Arnold/100000587657456 Rochell Arnold

What a little punk! OMG. I hope this fuck nut fries.
EveryVillainIsLemons

The great-grandmother’s a fucking idiot. This nasty little prick will probably get a smack on the wrist and not spend the rest of his life in prison. The rest of the world needs to be kept safe from people like him–people who take advantage of a kind-to-the-point-of-stupidity old woman’s generosity and murder a little girl for no reason at all.
tinalib13

I am one of those people who think from the heart, which is why I never became a lawyer lol. I’m trying to be better, but it’s tough, especially when it comes to the little ones. Sigh…damn those psychopaths.
AliceinChainsman =]

Firing Squad for those Boys..dont waste any more taxpayers money
Athena

That has nothing to do with it, actually. There are many extremely intelligent people who, at times, think with their heart. There are also people who come to the “kill ‘em” conclusion after a great deal of thinking with their brain (although I have found them to be few and far between). Whether you are thinking with your head or thinking with your heart actually has nothing to do with your level of intelligence. It’s also not a matter of “hard” vs. “soft” or whatever. There’s nothing “soft” about the pitchfork and torch crowd. I’m just illustrating the difference between coming to an emotionally-driven conclusion and a research or logic-driven conclusion.

In short, I’m not some douche who suggests people who disagree with me are stupid. I’ve seen you do that, though. Shall I call you “Pot”?
pikeman

I generally agree with not executing minors. Maybe, in this case, it would be better just to try him as an adult, and throw his sorry ass in general population. I guess the Supreme Court got tired of states like Texas lining up the minors for execution.
Abroad

Thank you.

He would have stood a better chance if he had gone straight from the disposal of the body to the police. Then he might have claimed fear of his psycho friend kept him from challenging his actions in the moment. (He may yet try that tack…..)
http://www.truecrimereport.com CallMeMister

I too thought the same until I started reading crime stories from days gone by. Crime Library is a good source for finding out about notorious murders from the 1800s and early 1900s. Check out Albert Fish, Belle Gunness, Leopold and Loeb, and Mary Bell, for example.

People have always been this brutal, psychopathic, and inhumane, and just as frequently as today. It’s just that the omnipotent presence of the internet and countless news sources that humanity seems to be devolving at an exponential rate because we have quick and easy access to stories like this from across the country and indeed, around the world.
JGo555

I’m ot about to blame great grandma for the following reasons:
1- She let the asshole stay even though he was taking advantage of her because she’s close to “meeting her maker”, she’s trying to earn “good points”.
2- She’s GREAT GRANDMA. That woman is old enough to be beyond tired.
3- I’m sure she told the girl: go to bed & the girl maybe didn’t listen. Being a GREAT GRANDMA talking is what they’re mostly able to do since they can’t physically remove someone from a place anymore.
What I wanna know is where MOmmy & Daddy were? I mean the monster of your loins is taking advantage of an old lady and is now a little girl murderer, WHY wasn’t he in your house?
JGo555

Man his name couldn’t sound more paedophilic, could it?
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

Nothing. Same as it ever was. Kids have always killed kids.
JGo555

How’s your Libby?
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

ZING!
http://www.dreamindemon.com Morbid

ZIIIING! Damn, girl. You are on a roll.
tinalib13

Ahhh yes, pikeman! I like the way you think!
Gee

I just want to throat punch this little punk ass. Every time I look at that mug shot it pisses me off
http://www.facebook.com/123Anonymous123 Cyftxdhrxhfjxgghc Bijommoiuvyf

How disgusting!!!!! Criminals r getting younger & younger
kimbev69

She is outstanding lol love her to pieces I’m about to change my profile pic, she is getting too big and too smart for me, the other day was my dogs birthday and she was pretending to be the mommy and me n dad the were the kids, she points to us and says ok guys we are making Sundays and you two are having a party, isn’t that a good idea!? Lol (a little self serving but very slick for a not yet 3 yr old)
kimbev69

I know I know how sad though
LeaveMeBe

You’re right. A father would have made this situation impossible. Because as we all know, fathers are perfect and totally in control and brimming with love and discipline of the most benevolent kind. We see it here everyday!!!
Now excuse me while I go stick my finger down my throat and vomit up the rainbows and unicorns you just tried to make us swallow.
newstarshipsmell

Save the rainbows, we might need them for something later. Just trying to think ahead.
JohnQknowitall

Walker says she wishes her grandmother had made Bella go to bed when she did, but does not blame her for her daughter’s death.

Sounds like passive blame to me.
JohnQknowitall

I am with you on this and it will be really interesting to see the time line for this event including each person who was in and around this house before and after the murder. This is just nuts.
LeaveMeBe

OK, I saved them. They’re with the flying pigs.
FrikkenFrak

This one is personal to me, folks.

I know Bella’s father, Mike. He’s probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. A good, good man with a heart of gold.

I cannot, nor will I attempt, to convey to you the shock, anguish and grief the family is going through.
Guest

That guy looks so creepy…I agree with everyone about the grandma that she should’ve put the girl to bed instead of leaving her with some freak. Grandma shouldn’t have had a creepy-looking freak hanging around where there were children. Or perhaps the freak was grandma’s twat filler (granny has needs too!)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1106642961 Alice Hennen

That guy looks so creepy…why would grandma have him hanging around if he couldn’t be trusted around children? I reckon granny was boinking this freak.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1106642961 Alice Hennen

Maybe he was Granny’s sex toy?
Ashley_xo

Another one close to home.. this shit is getting ridiculous.. luckily I was on vacation with the kids while all this happened, keeping up to date on the news when we heard she was missing, was hoping and praying it wasn’t going to end like this.. First of all, that is a very knowingly shitty area, the fact that the mother was from Cheektowaga (which is a much, MUCH better area) and dropped her daughter off consistently in an area where bad shit is “popping off” constantly and there are numerous gang related shootings, and just everyday horrible happening going on CONSTANTLY, knowing that the Great Grandmother was such a “trusting” individual who lets the riff raff come and go as they please, and the fact this sparked absolutely NO red flags anywhere for the mother baffles me.. to continue on to that and let the 5 year old child (who should be going to bed around 11pm anyways, sorry but it’s true, she’s 5, school starts next week- I just started getting my 7 yr old back into the whole “bed time at 9pm” thing again as well, and she would just leave the child unattended and NOT sleeping like that, in that area, knowing she lets the riff raff in and out like that, I just personally have a very hard time feeling any sympathy for the Great Grandmother here, especially knowing the area so well. Sad, sad, sad! I’m not sure if this was one of my babies, I would be so forgiving and unblaming of dear old Grat Granny, we don’t live in a terrible area, although everything around here, even the “good places” seem to be falling to shit, and my mother lives in an area not half as bad as the one this girl’s great grandmother lived at, and I refuse to drop my children off at her house to be baby sat, even if I have no other option, UNLESS I know first hand it’s only going to be like a half an hour or so when I run to the store or something and they are inside with her, doors locked, as she is the same way letting people in and out…
FrikkenFrak

It sounds to me like mom is blaming the person who actually committed the crime, rather than Bella’s grandmother who loved her very much. These were not neglectful parents.
FrikkenFrak

I was going to say that maybe his age played into the decision to “help a friend”. You know…the frontal lobes in teens aren’t yet fully developed which impacts their ability to think through cause and effect…. and consequences. And I was also going to bring up that the aspect of “loyalty to a friend” is different when you’re a kid.

Yeah….that’s what I was GOING to say.

Then I sat here thinking about myself at the age of 18 and what I believe I would have done. I would have said “Are you out of your fucking MIND!!!!! FUCK NO” then ran home and told my parents.
FrikkenFrak

Bleeding heart? Hmmm….that’s not a term that comes to mind that I’d use to describe you, Athena.

I’ve been hanging around DD for a few years and I come and go. During that time I’ve read many, many of your posts. In general, I’d describe you as someone who enjoys analytical thinking. Even if I don’t agree with an opinion you might have, I cannot help but respect that opinion because of the way you explain and support how you arrived at it.

On a site like this, where many of the articles can cause us to become quite emotionally charged, it’s often a refreshing gift to read a well thought-out statement that brings in a broader perspective.
http://www.facebook.com/candyappel.green Candy Appel Green

that little girl die and now they r going to make it look like them boys r the good guys and they r not they kills a little girl and if they did not wat to go to jail they should have kill her
http://www.facebook.com/margoraegoyette Margo Rae Goyette

Agreed.
pikeman

I can’t tell who people are answering to sometimes because of this stupid “parent” thing. Everyone is a fucking parent! Yes, I’m bitching again! I don’t like this format, and I’m sure I’ll get another “downvote” from Morbid. Oh well, what’s new? Fucking format and fucking downvotes that no one knows who gives, what a crock!
Operation Plumbbob

Mom may not hold grandma responsible but I do. She was the responsible adult. The child died on her watch. Ultimately the teen killed her but he wouldn’t have been there if weren’t for grandma letting him be.
Operation Plumbbob

I’ve got kids and have spent a good deal of time at their schools. I’ve seen the spectrum of kids at that age. Some are sweet, bubbly and wonderful. Some are downright brats (thanks to their home lives, usually). But even the most unfriendly, uncooperative, weird, booger-flicking, “I’m a real vampire!” irritating little kid couldn’t possibly do anything warranting this sort of treatment. I’m guessing Mr. Guyliner here was doing a thrill-kill.
Operation Plumbbob

I guess grandma can’t tell the mom she’s wrong about Freeman anymore. I can only hope grandma isn’t too senile to understand what’s happened and feels the anguish her actions have brought.