William Plaster & Shannon Casey accused of plotting to murder 3-month-old baby

**Dakota Valkyrie** · June 1st, 2010, 09:35 AM

A Sandy Ridge couple has been charged with crimes that have resulted in the biggest bond ever seen in Stokes County. They are accused of plotting to murder a three-month-old baby and have been issued a secured bond of $10 million.

On Thursday, May 27, William Dean Plaster Jr. of 2542 Amostown Road, Sandy Ridge, and Shannon Audrey Casey Fortenberry of the same address were arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, felony child abuse and child abuse inflicting serious injury.

These arrests and charges were a result of an investigation conducted by the Stokes County Sheriff's Department and NC State Bureau of Investigation. The investigation ensued after the young infant was taken to Morehead Eden Hospital on April 22. After medical personnel at that facility examined the child, the baby was transported by air to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Doctors at Baptist determined that the infant had suffered various broken ribs, a broken right leg and severe head trauma. The head injury resulted in retinal and brain hemorhaging. The final medical diagnosis was non-accidental head trauma.

http://www.wxii12.com/news/23753118/detail.html

WTF??? Plotting? As in to plan it on purpose?????

**BreakTheSilence** · June 1st, 2010, 09:42 AM

Why the fuck would anyone plot to murder a helpless 3 month old baby? A baby is so precious and snuggly and loveable. Maybe I'm nuts, but I just can't get my head around these asshats wanting to harm a baby. I can't get my head around the concept of treating any child harshly.

**Valasca** · June 1st, 2010, 09:48 AM

injury resulted in retinal and brain hemorhaging

Then it will likely be a relief for this innocent babe to die, sad to say.
This is nauseating.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · June 1st, 2010, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by Amazon

Then it will likely be a relief for this innocent babe to die, sad to say.

I would say that depends on the severity of the injury. Hopefully, it does not leave permanent damage of major severity. It's possible.

**sinfulplezurz702** · June 1st, 2010, 10:34 AM

was this their baby? what the hell is wrong with these evil dickheads? i hope baby recovers all the way...i'll say some more prayers

**BreakTheSilence** · June 1st, 2010, 10:36 AM

OMG when I first looked at this story I thought it was 2 men. I'm really hoping against hope that it wasn't their baby because that means some man was desperate enough to have had sex with that (her).

**thebooblady** · June 1st, 2010, 10:49 AM

All seriousness aside because this is heinous, but how do you "plot" to kill a 3 month old baby and not succeed? Like how hard can it be? These two are the biggest losers for many reasons.

**Valasca** · June 1st, 2010, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Dakota Valkyrie

I would say that depends on the severity of the injury. Hopefully, it does not leave permanent damage of major severity. It's possible.

Gods, I hope you are right.

**Ravyn1965** · June 1st, 2010, 12:40 PM

What brutal, savage beasts! Let's just save the community a whole lot of time and money and make these two into a couple of speed bumps and be done with it.

Ugh...beating on a 3 month old...disgusting!

**momof3** · June 1st, 2010, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by Dakota Valkyrie

assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury

I am guessing here but I think the "plotting to kill a 3 month old" stemmed from the intent to kill charge. Apparently the prosecution was pretty pissed and rightfully so. I love when prosecutors colorfully use the law and slap on as many charges as they can :) All of these child abusers and murders should be locked up until their baby making parts shrivel up or fall off, sorry baby beating men...you will just have to die in prison unless you agree to become a eunuch. Because of the attempted first-degree murder charge also makes me think the doctors believe this child will survive; at least that is what I WANT to believe. I know we have all seen charges upgraded but usually they slap on what they can and wait for the attempted murder or murder charge. Now what I want to know is what deadly weapon they hurt this poor child with? Maybe we could figure out a way to use it to inflict injury on them. There are some pretty creative people here on DD so there would be no shortage of ideas that’s for sure! We really need to adopt an eye for an eye legal system.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · June 1st, 2010, 01:52 PM

A bit more. Sadly.

Investigators says they are the infant's parents.
[...]

An MRI shows signs of healing ribs, evidence of previous beating, according to Craine. Child Protective Services had not previously investigated the couple for abuse. Neighbors also say they didn't know of abuse to the infant.

The infant is currently in a "permanent vegetative state" with irreversible neurological damage, according to Craine.

Craine says each parent does have other kids, but those children didn't live with the couple.

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/a...43086&catid=57

The baby has been released from the hospital into the care of a foster home. According to comments at Topix, the child is a baby boy and she has 4 other kids and he has 2.

**CiaraLuna** · June 1st, 2010, 02:12 PM

"Permanent vegetative state"...
Yep, he survived the attempted murder, but being "alive" and truly "living" are two very different things.

Poor little guy, I would have taken care of you and showed you the love you deserved.

**CplPunishment** · June 1st, 2010, 02:21 PM

What idiots sit around and plot killing a 3 month old? My God look at these 2 azztards! Glad to see the NC SBI was smart enough to figure it out, But I wonder how they figured the plotted to kill the Baby? Guess we'll never know.

**momof3** · June 1st, 2010, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by CiaraLuna

"Permanent vegetative state"...
Yep, he survived the attempted murder, but being "alive" and truly "living" are two very different things.

Poor little guy, I would have taken care of you and showed you the love you deserved.

Couldn't have said it better, poor little guy. We need harsher laws regarding POS parents or caregivers who permanently disfigure or cause brain injury; felony child abuse just doesn't cut it for me. I know they slapped on various charges but lets hope they stick and in some cases child abuse is all they get these bastards with. In situations like these what's better? Death or permanently disabled? I know it is a horrible thing to think or even say and I would much rather spend my life taking care of my child then a day burying them. But I would also like to know how others feel about this. I sure hope he is not in constant pain. I could just cry...Every time I read about another helpless child I always come back to Baby Briana Lopez. I wish her good night and give each one of my children an extra hug for her daily.

**redsaid** · June 1st, 2010, 04:56 PM

Some of you know my sister was in a coma for 2 years. I'm sorry but death would be my choice. If there is no chance for recovery, that is.

**Valasca** · June 1st, 2010, 05:27 PM

Sigh. I REALLY wanted DV to be right and me to be wrong.
fuckfuckfuck.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · June 1st, 2010, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by Amazon

Sigh. I REALLY wanted DV to be right and me to be wrong.
fuckfuckfuck.

So did I.

But then again, I always want to be right...

**ScribbleMuse** · June 2nd, 2010, 12:56 AM

Ugh. I'd agree that it was a case of creative prosecution and yay for that at least. I fucking hate when some defense attorney tries to get their clients off of murder charges because of legal bullshit of not "intending" to kill a baby, but that the death was an unfortunate consequence/side effect of being stomped/beaten/shaken/raped/any-number-of-other-evil. Like someone who is an adult would have no idea that such treatment could kill a helpless and fragile being. Fuckwads. I think that "plotting to kill" is quite a good term for child abuse.

**redsaid** · June 2nd, 2010, 12:01 PM

Fuckwads. I think that "plotting to kill" is quite a good term for child abuse.

I'll second that!

**lundwall1** · June 2nd, 2010, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by momof3

Couldn't have said it better, poor little guy. We need harsher laws regarding POS parents or caregivers who permanently disfigure or cause brain injury; felony child abuse just doesn't cut it for me. I know they slapped on various charges but lets hope they stick and in some cases child abuse is all they get these bastards with. In situations like these what's better? Death or permanently disabled? I know it is a horrible thing to think or even say and I would much rather spend my life taking care of my child then a day burying them. But I would also like to know how others feel about this. I sure hope he is not in constant pain. I could just cry...Every time I read about another helpless child I always come back to Baby Briana Lopez. I wish her good night and give each one of my children an extra hug for her daily.

Baby Brianna HAunts me DAILY-I think of her every time I read one of these horrible stories. When my daughter was first born I would watch her sleep so peacefully and think about Brianna and babies like her and I would just cry cry cry-and it would take everything I had not to pick my little gilr up and hold her (she was sleeping and she was colicky so no way I was going to wake her!but I would stare at her for hours) I just can never ever fathom hurting a child-someone so innocent-so full of life-and their life just beginning-they need to be sheltered from the evil of the world because one day they all grow up and find out how fucked up the world really is-but unfortunately poor babies like this one and Brianna and countless others find out all too early how fucked up people are. All these poor babies stories need to be told-as hard as it to read it must be read. They deserve at the very least that-let people like myself and others like myself on here think of them, pray for them, love them without ever knowing them-because someone has to care for these "unwanted" children-even if it's strangers...I pray for this babies full recovery

**Dakota Valkyrie** · June 2nd, 2010, 05:55 PM

The estranged wife of a man accused of severely beating his 3-month-old baby said she knows her husband isn't guilty of the crime.

The woman, who didn't want to be identified, told WXII she and 37-year-old William Dean Plaster Jr. are currently going through a divorce.
[...]

They are accused of beating their son, causing brain hemorrhaging, broken ribs and a broken leg. Authorities said tests showed the baby, William Dean Plaster III, also had previous injuries.

"It’s not in his heart to hurt a child. He loves all kids," Plaster's wife said Wednesday. "There’s no doubt in my mind he did not do this. I know for a fact, cause I got two kids with him. I’ve been 18 and a half years with him. I’ve been with him since I was 16 years old and there’s no way that he could have done this -- not the way that he loved his two kids with me.”

Stokes County investigators said Plaster and Fortenberry claim the baby fell off a couch on April 22.
[...]

Plaster's wife said whoever did cause the injuries should be punished.

“The minute he comes out (of jail), I will take my children up there. My kids love their daddy. He has never hurt them and he never will. He doesn’t have it. It’s not in his heart to hurt his kids at all," she said.

http://www.wxii12.com/news/23771009/detail.html