Hiding Son's Body For 13 Months, Latisha Lawson Is Arrested

[Dakota Valkyrie]

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-2201.jpg
A body believed to be a missing 3-year-old boy has been found, and the boy's mother has been arrested on a preliminary charge of neglect of a dependent, a Class A felony, according to a release from the police.

Latisha A. Lawson, 31, of 1301 Wabash Ave., was taken into police custody this morning for questioning after she, her daughter Kierra King, 10, and her son Jezaih King, 3, had been reported missing.

During questioning, Lawson told police that Jezaih was “with God” and had been since about a week before Thanksgiving 2009, according to the probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday.http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101221/BREAKING/101229998

Court records indicate a woman called police Monday, saying Lawson had wrapped the body of her dead son Jesaih King in a blanket and placed it in a closet.

About eight hours later, after police aired a missing person report on late night television newscasts in the Fort Wayne market, police got a tip leading them to a house in the 1300 block of Wabash, where they found Lawson and her ten-year old daughter Kierra King.

During questioning, police claim Lawson admitted to killing her son in November 2009, saying "JK" upset her because she couldn't take his temper tantrums.

She said she gave him olive oil and vinegar until he stopped breathing.

Police obtained consent to search the house and found the child's remains in a tote in a bedroom.

Officer Raquel Foster/Fort Wayne Police Department: " It appeared that that child had been deceased for some time, so, it does appear that she had been carrying the remains of that child with her."

Bobbie Piper/Next Door Neighbor: " I just don't know what's been going on, because they just moved over here about two months ago, and we only knew of the daughter, we never knew about the son."

The ten-year old daughter was transported to police headquarters at the time Latisha Lawson was brought in for questioning.

It’s still unclear how the little boy could have been missing for 13 months and nobody got suspicious enough to notify police.

Officer Foster says close relatives had not seen Lawson or her daughter for a couple of months, but why no one reported potential trouble with Jesaih King is a big mystery.http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/home/Police-Looking-For-Missing-Family-112228244.html

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-1776.jpg


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26g5MQalUXs

[Valasca]

How did she keep this from the girl? Did she threaten the girl? Did she lie to her? Did the girl even know?
I'm just glad she didn't throw his little body in the dumpster or toss him in the woods a la Erica "Precious Doe" Greene.

[Tundratot]

How gruesome! Are we to believe that vinegar and oil killed him?

This, over temper tantrums? I guess she couldn't find a way to get some air or step away from him? No family or friends? No wonder no one noticed he was missing.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Are we to believe that vinegar and oil killed him?
Nope. He "choked to death" but not due to salad dressing.

The Allen County coroner has ruled that a young boy found in a Wabash Avenue residence Tuesday was killed by “asphyxia due to compression of the neck.”

Dr. E. Jon Brandenberger ruled the death a homicide, Fort Wayne and the county’s 29th homicide of the year.

“Investigators have reasonable belief that the decedent is Jeziah T. King, 3, of Fort Wayne, but are waiting for DNA testing results to be completed for positive identification,” the coroner said in a written statement.http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20101222/LOCAL07/101229858

[badfish76]

Thanks, DV. I didn't figure vinegar and oil could kill you or I would be dead, surely.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Elisha Harris, pastor of the Oakridge Temple Church and Ministry, said Lawson had approached the church, saying she and her daughter had no place to live. He arranged for them to stay in the house that was being renovated into a shelter.

“After some discussion, our church decided to give her a place to stay,” Harris told The Journal Gazette. “We were just trying to help her from being hurt, from being out in the cold.”

Harris said he didn't remember Lawson having a bag large enough to hold a body.

“When she came there, she just had a few bags; she didn't have nothing that big,” he said. “Apparently, she must have gone back somewhere to get these other things.”

Harris said he heard from others in his congregation that Lawson was running from her family or that she wanted no part of her family.

Bobbie Piper, who lives next to the home where Lawson was most recently staying, said she saw no signs of trouble.

“We only knew of the daughter, we never knew about the son,” she said.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101222/NEWS02/12220365/1001/BUSINESS06/Cops-Ft-Wayne-mom-kiled-son-3-hid-body-year

[AngelFire]

What a horrible bitch. Of course he had temper tantrums, look who he had teaching him. She couldn't control, or take his temper tantrum, so she pitched her own fucking fit that caused the death of this baby boy.

Grab the biggest bottle of vinergar and shove it down her throat, while beating her upside her head.

[Whisper]

Toddler Autopsy Report Released

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tDNS4-MkN8

[Tundratot]

I hope they plan to upgrade those charges to murder, abuse of a corpse, etc. Neglect of a dependent does not sound adequate to the crime.

[FknKraze]

I hope they water board this stupid, fucking, cunt, with vinegar, after they make tiny, little, cuts, all over her face, with a fucking razor!!http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/water-boarding-a-1.jpg

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Huh? There was a roommate?

Lawson's roommate reported to police that Lawson had placed the body of Jezaih, wrapped in a blanket, in a closet on or around Nov. 19, 2009.
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101223/NEWS/12230349

[totallytoddler]

This was on NG last night...I think the roommate should be charged with something too for not reporting it. And as far as the little girl, the priest had mentioned that she looked scared and was VERY quiet and didn't speak. I'm guessing Mommy shuts her up by threatening to do the same thing to her that she did to her brother. UGH. What a POS.
This lady had parents....she could have called them and said "Please help me with the kids. I'm afraid I might hurt them." I bet in MOST cases thats all it would take to save these kids lives. Cuz if I got that phone call from someone..you bet you ass I would go get those kids!
There HAD to have been someone she could have called if not her parents.

[eliz1bef]

I am so embarrassed. I just submitted this as a thread. My first time submitting a thread and I totally blow it. I did a search before I wrote it up, I swear! I should have searched again before submitting. I had to reset my password and whatnot so there was a bit of a delay.

Please don't hurt me. How do I get a mod to delete my thread??

[Nell]

It is all ok. The mods will see it and add it to this thread or delete. No one will beat you. It is Christmas still on the West Coast so you get a pass from me. :D

[VXIII]

we all have done it... dont worry about it...

[Alf]

Please don't hurt me. How do I get a mod to delete my thread??

No need to delete it. Just go to the thread you started, click on the triangle at the bottom, and report it as a duplicate thread. If you include the URL for this thread (http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/showthread.php?42750-Hiding-Son-s-Body-For-13-Months-Latisha-Lawson-Is-Arrested) in the report the mods will merge them, and all is good.

--Al

[Dakota Valkyrie]

According to court documents, Fort Wayne resident Latisha Lawson, 31, forced a mixture of oil and vinegar to her children because she believed they were both demon possessed.

Lawson’s daughter Kierra King, 10, vomited when given the mixture. Her son Jezaih King, 3, was given the oil and vinegar three times. On the third time, Lawson told detectives she held Jezaih’s mouth shut for about 10 minutes until he stopped breathing.

Kierra said Lawson then placed Jezaih’s body on a bed and had her view the body and pray over him. Lawson admitted she later wrapped the three-year-old in a blanket and put his body in a closet for almost a year.
[...]

Fort Wayne Police confirmed that Latisha Lawson’s mother had not seen her daughter or grandchildren in roughly two years.

The children’s father had no contact with them in nearly a year as well.

FWPD Public Information Officer Raquel Foster said, “She made it difficult for anyone to obtain any information about her. And that is why I believe it took some time for grandma to track her down.”

Lawson’s mom contacted police on September 23 of this year, requesting that officers check on the welfare of her daughter and grandchildren.

According to police, Lawson’s mother had been searching for the family for months and had only recently obtained an address.

She directed police to an apartment on Hobson Road and that’s where officers found Latisha, her daughter Kierra, and another woman; police are not releasing that woman’s identity.

Foster said both adult females told the responding officer that Jezaih King was staying with a relative.

The woman who has not been identified is now an official part of the investigation.

“She is a very important part of this investigation because when the officer went to that apartment on Hobson Road, she corroborated the mother's story,” Raquel Foster said. “She said yes, that toddler was staying with an aunt and that yes, he was fine. And we know now that was not the truth.”
[...]
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/toddler-killed-thought-to-be-demon-posessed

At the police station, Lawson told detectives her son was “with God.” She said she could not take Jezaih’s temper tantrums. She talked of his possession at the hands of at least one demon and about how she poured olive oil and vinegar into his mouth until he died.
[...]

Lawson’s daughter told her interviewer similar details. She included how Lawson put Jezaih’s body on a couch and called her daughter over to say goodbye to him. Then she placed him on a bed and told the girl to pray over the dead boy.

Finally, she wrapped Jezaih in a blanket and put him in a bedroom closet.

When it came time to move, Lawson’s daughter told her interviewer, Jezaih was put in a plastic tote and taken to their new home, presumably 1301 Wabash Ave.

Lawson’s daughter also said that her mother would often beat her with a pink belt or an extension cord, leaving marks on her body that, at the time of the interview, were still present. The girl also said Lawson would strike her with closed fists and open hands.
[...]

When a detective asked her whether she knew, upon her son’s death, that she had murdered him, Lawson answered with only one word, according to court records.

“Yes,” she said.http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20101229/LOCAL07/312299974/1043/LOCAL07

[Tundratot]

What a POS! Put her away in a dungeon for the rest of her life. Let her pray for redemption.

Jezaih probably suffocated because puke was filling his airways and unable to be cleared from his mouth while she held it closed. Possessed, my fat a**! And her poor terrified daughter! I bet she was praying for deliverance from the demon possessed POS she called mother!

[badfish76]

And her poor terrified daughter! I bet she was praying for deliverance from the demon possessed POS she called mother!

Amen, sister!

Absolutely mind numbing the evil that one person can perpetrate on another; especially when that other is a child. Not to mention the ripple effect of their act. Crime is like throwing a pebble in a pool. We are all a great example of the (in most cases) outer ripples. We are offended and outraged by these acts. These "people" have so little regard for anything but themselves and they hurt SO MANY. Truly society as a whole. But they never realize the outrage of all or any fault on their own part as can be seen by the claim of "demon possession" of the child in this case. No, the child did not have demons in him. Someone was selfish and had no idea what it was like to see the world through the eyes on another, let alone a helpless child.

I suppose that the "no brains, no pains" factor plays in somewhere. I guess it just blows me away that humans can act like this and the majority never acknowledge the harm they caused. I snap at someone and I think about how that made them feel and I regret it. These things have no concept of that. They can't take the place on another (I think Herbert Mead was onto something).

Just unbelievable!

SMH.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

No murder charge for mother, but why?

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/-dd-1836.jpg
Last month a Fort Wayne mother admitted to killing her 3-year-old son, but she was only charged with neglect of a dependent and battery, not murder. NewsChannel 15 talked to a Fort Wayne attorney to figure out why.
[...]

The average person might think that would constitute a murder charge, but according to Fort Wayne attorney Michelle Kraus Lawson probably knowingly killed her son but it doesn't look like it was intentional.

"The intent to kill is what distinguishes murder from everything else. It would be difficult to prove that she intended to kill her child through her actions of what she was doing that would be why they did not file murder," said Michelle Kraus, Fort Wayne attorney.

Kraus has worked on a similar case, and she said in that case murder charges were also not filed.

Lawson faces five charges, three counts of neglect of a dependent, and two counts of battery. Two of those charges are A Felonies.

"It (A Felony) carries a 20 to 50 year sentence, which is the most serious offense other than murder that could be levied against her," said Kraus.

The coroner said the preliminary cause of death was asphyxia due to compression of the neck. Lawson will be back in court at the end of January.
http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/no-murder-charge-for-mother,-but-why%3F

[Hellsbells]

2nd woman charged in Indiana toddler's death


An Indiana woman who told police she held the legs of a 2-year-old Fort Wayne boy while his mother forced him to drink a concoction of olive oil and vinegar because they thought it would exorcise demons from him has been charged in his death.

Natasha Hawkins, 31,of Fort Wayne is charged with aiding in battery causing death, neglect of a dependent causing death, assisting a criminal and four counts of battery in Jezaih King's death. She did not enter a plea when she appeared before Magistrate Robert Schmoll on Wednesday. She does not yet have an attorney.

Jezaih's mother, 31-year-old Latisha Lawson, was charged with murder on Feb. 11. She previously had been charged with battery causing death, neglect of a dependent causing death, neglect of a dependent causing injury, neglect of a dependent and battery.

Police say Lawson kept Jeziah's body in a plastic tote for more than a year until she was arrested on Dec. 21, 2010.

Lawson was being held Wednesday at the Allen County Jail on $70,000 bond. Her next court appearance is April 6.

The Journal Gazette reports that Lawson's court-appointed attorney has filed paperwork indicating she intends to use an insanity defense. She is scheduled to go on trial May 24.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/23/2nd-woman-charged-indiana-toddlers-death/

[Bohring]

they thought it would exorcise demons from him has been charged in his death.

Oh come on! When did demons develop a servere allergic reaction to salad dressing?!

Evil bitches! Someone should force-feed them oil and vinegar until they pop all Se7en style!

[badfish76]

That may be the claim the mother made at the time but I don't think even she really believed that's why they were doing it. It was simply a way to torture the kid because she was mad about something. If she REALLY though that he was possessed by demons she wouldn't have hidden the body of 13 months, or even a day.

[Hellsbells]

Jury finds mom guilty of son's murder


At the end, after Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull read six consecutive verdicts of guilty, it was very clear: Any of the reasons offered for why Latisha Lawson killed her 2-year-old son and battered her daughter couldn't erase the reality that she did, indeed, do both.

Of those verdicts, handed down Friday night by a jury, none came with the caveat that Lawson's mental capacity was diminished. In a case where the facts were never truly in dispute – only some details surrounding those facts were contested – no acquittals were delivered.

After a four-day trial and five hours of deliberation, the jury found her guilty of murder, two counts of battery and three counts of neglect in the death of Jezaih King.

With that, from the legal perspective, all debate of Lawson's sanity, her defense of her actions by invoking demons and exorcisms, ended.

Just as Allen County Deputy Prosecutor Thomas Daniel Chaille had requested when, during his closing argument and requesting that jurors reject the defense's claims that Lawson was somehow not culpable, said, “It doesn't track. This one's easy.”

“It's a simple child-abuse case,” Chaille later added.

The case began after King's body was found late in 2010 in a plastic tote in a home in which Lawson was living.

“Jezaih didn't deserve this. No one deserved this.”

Lawson will be sentenced at 11 a.m. June 24. http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/SE/20110528/NEWS/105280332

[Tundratot]

OFGS, sentence her now!!!

[AngelFire]

Yes, let's not wait until June 24. Let's do it now, damn it

[Jerri Blank]

Mom gets 62 years in death of boy, 2



Nearly a dozen people tearfully told an Allen Superior Court judge how much they loved Latisha Lawson, what a wonderful mother and person she was. They pleaded for leniency.


Some even blamed themselves for the events that transpired about 18 months ago and claimed the life of Lawson’s 2-year-old son Jezaih King.


And while Allen Superior Court Judge Fran Gull listened to all the testimony, she found the “extraordinarily horrific” nature of the crimes Lawson committed justified a sentence of 62 years in prison for killing the toddler.


In May, an Allen Superior Court jury found Lawson, 31, guilty of all the charges against her – murder, aggravated battery causing death, neglect of a dependent causing death, neglect of a dependent causing injury, neglect of a dependent and battery causing injury to a child under 14.


After nearly a week of horrific testimony and evidence, the jury opted against two other options – finding her not guilty by reason of insanity, or guilty but mentally ill – in connection with the charges. [...]

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110625/LOCAL03/306259991
(http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110625/LOCAL03/306259991)
Not nearly enough time, I guess it's better than the other two options :-(

[Momzilla]

Of course we would all like her to get a longer sentence but 62 years means she would be in jail until she's 93. Even if she only serves 3/4 of that sentence, she will still be pretty old and decripit by then. The prime time of her life will be spent behind bars, probably in solitary, hiding from all the mom's who would love to take a chunk or 2 out of a baby killer! Now onto the roommate...

[Tundratot]

YES!!!! Yes! Yes! That is outstanding!

[Dakota Valkyrie]

http://i0.simplest-image-hosting.net/168bf183b2abe8bc9188aacc163dd507/20110817-01.jpg
A Fort Wayne woman admitted Monday morning to her part in an “exorcism” act that led to a toddler’s death.

Natasha N. Hawkins, 31, pleaded guilty to a Class A felony battery charge in the death of 2-year-old Jezaih King. In June, a jury found Jezaih’s mother, Latisha Lawson, guilty of murder.
[...]

Hawkins faces 30 years in prison if Allen Superior Court Judge Frances Gull accepts a plea agreement that calls for seven other charges to be dropped. Hawkins’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for September.

In a soft monotone, Hawkins quietly answered Gull’s questions during Monday’s hearing and said she is on medication for bipolar disorder.

She originally had planned an insanity defense, but doctors had found her sane at the time of the offense and competent to stand trial, her court-appointed defense attorney, Quinton Ellis, said Monday.

During Lawson’s trial, she described Hawkins as a spiritual adviser. Lawson’s older child testified the two women slept in a bed alongside Jezaih’s lifeless body and later put him in a closet and eventually in 32-gallon plastic tub, wrapped in a sheet.
[...]

The charges against Hawkins that would be dropped as part of the plea agreement are neglect of a dependent resulting in death, assisting a criminal and five counts of battery resulting in bodily injury – all felonies.http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110816/LOCAL03/308169967/-1/LOCAL11

[Dakota Valkyrie]

A second woman has been sentenced in an "exorcism" that killed a Fort Wayne toddler.

Allen Superior Judge Fran Gull on Friday accepted the plea agreement reached with prosecutors and sentenced Natasha N. Hawkins to 30 years on the charge of aiding in a battery causing the death of a child.
[...]

Before she was sentenced, Hawkins told the court she was truly sorry and remorseful for what had occurred, and asked for mercy by the court.
[...]
http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20110916/LOCAL03/110919674

[Tundratot]

Hallelujah!!! They both should rot in jail, beating on a two year old and calling it an exorcism!

[62julietandvoid]

When I read about this cunt saying she couldnt handle his temper tantrums, the vision of me wrestling a broomstick out of my youngest's hands entered to mind. From 2-4 he was a tad on the vicious side. Now, at 7, he is as sweet as he can be. And his sweet older brother became the sassy one. He doesn't have defiance down pat, but he tries. I think my youngest's tantrum peak, before he turned uber sweet, was spitting. He really thought he was doing something with that. I called it kitten spit. lol

[Robynne]

Lawson’s older child testified the two women slept in a bed alongside Jezaih’s lifeless body

Holy fucking shit.... how?
I could see myself holding the lifeless body of a child because I didn't want him/her to be gone, but fuck. To sleep next to a dead child like he's just taking a nap. Wow!!!!
That's as far as my mind will work on this one.

Just Wow

[JuneOh]

Why is it so hard for these people to just walk away when they are frustrated and angry? Just go outside and calm themselves down for goodness sake!!!

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Why is it so hard for these people to just walk away when they are frustrated and angry? Just go outside and calm themselves down for goodness sake!!!
I don't think you can apply "normal" to these kind of folks. If you try to you will burn out more brain cells than humans have. I'm not sure how many that is but I'm pretty sure it's more than any of them had to start with.