Adam Palmer & Ryka Hopper Arrested After 1yo Taken To Hospital Unconcious

**Whisper** · July 28th, 2010, 07:01 PM

Man Allegedly Beat Woman, Children
July 14 2010
MANSFIELD, Texas - Mansfield police have arrested Adam Palmer for allegedly beating his girlfriend, her 5-year-old and her 2-year-old. The youngest child remains hospitalized in critical condition and Palmer is in jail
[...]

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/071...n-and-Children

Adam Palmer

Mother of injured Mansfield toddler arrested
MANSFIELD — The mother of a 2-year-old Mansfield girl who arrived at an Arlington hospital unconscious earlier this month has been arrested.

Ryka Hopper Önhjis is in the Mansfield Jail where she faces a charge of injury to a child by omission. Her bond had been set at $100,000.

Hopper's live-in boyfriend, Adam Carroll Palmer, 27, was arrested earlier this month. He faces two counts of causing serious bodily injury to a child and an aggravated-assault charge.

His bond was set at $450,000.

Hopper and her two daughters, ages 5 and 2, arrived at an Arlington hospital on July 12 with bruises and other injuries to their bodies, according to an arrest affidavit released Wednesday.

The 2-year-old was unconscious and had injuries to the brain, including blood and contusions. She was later taken by air ambulance to Medical City Hospital in Dallas, where she remains in a coma, said Thad Penkala, a Mansfield police spokesman.

A doctor at the hospital said he believed the injuries had been sustained over numerous days or weeks, according to the affidavit.

Hopper had a broken arm and the 5-year-old had bruises on her face. Both were released that same day, according to the affidavit.

During an interview with Mansfield police several days later, Hopper told police that during the first week of June, she was inside the home when Palmer and the 2-year-old went outside.

At some point, she heard a loud noise, then the toddler's crying. The 2-year-old had been shot in the foot with a BB gun, according to the affidavit. It is unclear how or why the 2-year-old was shot.

Hopper said she was then forced to hold the girl down while Palmer removed two gold BBs from her foot with a knife, according to the affidavit.

Asked what the 2-year-old did while the BB was being dug out, she said the girl "cried and screamed."

Two weeks later, Hopper said she had arrived home and found the 2-year-old unconscious on the floor, according to the affidavit.

She told police that Palmer told her that the toddler had a seizure. She then stated that the child remained on the floor for more than 16 hours before she finally regained consciousness and started crying.

Because the crying awakened Palmer, he then picked the 2-year-old up "like a rag doll and threw her to the floor and told her to shut up," Hopper told police.

The toddler whimpered on the floor until she went to sleep, according to the affidavit. After the incident, the girl could not walk or use her right hand and had trouble speaking, the affidavit says.
[...]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07...d-toddler.html

Ryka Hopper

**Tundratot** · July 29th, 2010, 03:47 AM

On the floor for 16 hours! Not asleep at all -- knocked unconscious, concussed at the very least. That brutal bastard! And that was apparently month before all three went to the hospital with injuries. What does it take for this female to "get it"? Wouldn't bb's lodged in a toddler's foot be enough for most people?

And do you see his mug shot? Don't tell me that round faced no neck troglodyte was worth it!

**Bridget217** · July 29th, 2010, 11:23 AM

I hope they beat that peice of shit into a siezure. 16 hours on the floor and then another bodyslam and a "Shutup". I want to kick that prick's face in, pig-eyed neanderthal bitch that he is, it would probably be an improvement.

**Mystica43229** · July 29th, 2010, 12:04 PM

I wish they had the death penalty for child abusers. I want them both to fry.

**sgr1966** · July 29th, 2010, 11:50 PM

disgusting bitch

**AussieMum** · July 30th, 2010, 12:31 AM

Oh My Fucking God!!!

She was left on the floor for 16 hours!!!!!!!! For fucks sake, what did they think would happen to this precious child!!!!!

Praying for you sweetie.

**Valasca** · July 30th, 2010, 01:03 AM

Um. He's a FIREFIGHTER!
http://www.myspace.com/firefighter2600

**Silvahalo** · July 30th, 2010, 01:59 AM

She then stated that the child remained on the floor for more than 16 hours before she finally regained consciousness and started crying....The toddler whimpered on the floor until she went to sleep, according to the affidavit. After the incident, the girl could not walk or use her right hand and had trouble speaking...

And, and, why aren't we reading she then beat the fucking asshole, baby, beating bastard with a frying pan???? c'mon he's ripe for it! I don't give 2 shits who the fuck this guy THINKS he is, I would take him out so hard HE would never walk straight again, speaking, ha! a distant memory.

The woman is weak, and stupid and is NO mother, a combo I fuckn hate.
She doesn't deserve these sweet children.

I wonder how the 5 yo is doing? I hope baby girl recovers completely.

on his ms playlist, "If the good die young"
her ms.

**Valasca** · July 30th, 2010, 02:08 AM

Hmm, didn't see his OTHER MS page. But this:

Yesterday at 14:00 hours, We had a Helicopter from Careflite go down in Midlothian. We had two brothers on board who did not survive the crash. For personal Mood: sad 10:23 AM Jun 3

http://www.myspace.com/firefighterca...#ixzz0v8wHVFs6

He's sad about OTHER people's kids. Fuckwad.

**Tundratot** · July 30th, 2010, 03:23 AM

Um. He's a FIREFIGHTER!

I doubt he is anymore . . .

**Drendike** · October 19th, 2010, 12:28 AM

Name's Shawn, I know Ryka and her baby daddy Walter. This is such cowardly bitch attitude and behavior of that fucking bitch Ryka. Walter's spending all the time he can with his 3 year old baby girl, Ryka should've never gotten custody of the baby. They had the baby girl in a fucking coma for her 3rd birthday. I'm dealing with recovery myself, broken back, fractured skull, and swollen brain from a car accident with my ex-wife. Even dealing with my injuries, I'd never intentionally hurt my babies and I've got 3. Ryka and the dumb fuck abuser should feel the e-chair for this child abuse.

**Whisper** · October 19th, 2010, 12:44 AM

thanks for the update, and not being one of them that comes on here defending the actions just b/c they "know" the person or are related
How are the kids do you know??
Please keep us updated if you can we really do care what happens to the abused babies on here and would love to know how the kids are,,ty again

**Robynne** · October 19th, 2010, 03:24 AM

UPDATE
Multiple charges for couple

Also on Sept. 29, a Tarrant County grand jury returned indictments against Adam Carroll Palmer and Ryka Telan Hopper, who are accused of abusing Hopper's 2-year-old and 5-year-old daughters.

Palmer, 27, was indicted on a child-injury charge, a first-degree felony. Investigators reported that he struck the 2-year-old's head against a hard surface, hit her head with a belt and shook her. The charge carries a maximum of life in prison.

Palmer was also indicted on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is accused of using a knife to cut two BBs from the girl's foot June 15. The second-degree felony carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.

The grand jury also indicted him on a charge of injury to a child causing bodily injury. Investigators said he struck the 5-year-old with his hand and a belt. That third-degree felony carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The injuries were first reported when Hopper took the children to an Arlington hospital July 12. Palmer was arrested the same day after doctors said the unconscious 2-year-old had severe brain injuries, which they believed had been inflicted over days or weeks, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Palmer, who served prison time for a 2003 child injury case, remained in the Tarrant County Jail on Thursday. Bail was set at a total of $500,000, but he will not be released because of a parole violation.

The 2-year-old remains in critical condition in a long-term-care facility, authorities said.

Hopper, 27, was arrested July 27 and indicted last week on a charge of injury to a child by omission. She is accused of failing to get medical attention for her daughters. The first-degree felony charge carries a maximum of life in prison.

She told Mansfield police that on June 15, Palmer forced her to hold her daughter down while he used a knife to remove two BBs that he had fired into her foot. Two weeks later, Hopper told police, she found her daughter unconscious.

She said Palmer told her that the girl had had a seizure. When the child regained consciousness 16 hours later, Palmer picked her up and threw her to the floor because her crying woke him, Hopper told police.

Hopper remained in the Tarrant County Jail on Thursday with bail set at a total of $100,000.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/10...#ixzz12mrygxFC

**badfish76** · October 19th, 2010, 03:36 AM

This is some fucked up shit!

I can not believe she let that fuck wad beat her kids, shoot the one with a BB gun twice AND THEN participated in the torture of the child when POS dickcheese carved the BB's out of her foot with a knife. TORTURE! Mom HELPED!!

THEN as if the indignities this child had already suffered were not enough she leaves an unconscious baby on the floor for 16 hours???? 16 HOURS!!!! I could see and hour or so if the kid was NAPPING!!

You bet your ASS she is equally responsible for this! I will bet you a million bucks that when she goes to trial she tries to play the domestic violence card because she had a broken arm when she went to the hospital, but when you consider her depraved indifference to her child not once, or twice but THREE TIMES (once for each BB she held the child down while home made surgery was performed) it is clear she was involved.

ETA: The update was posted while I was posting. It is as bad as it sounds! I hope they both get life in prison! That poor child continues to suffer because of the actions of this human GARBAGE! I am just freakin' sick from it!

**emturdreams** · December 26th, 2010, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Amazon

Um. He's a FIREFIGHTER!
http://www.myspace.com/firefighter2600

NO HE WAS NOT A REAL FIREFIGHTER!!! He thought he was but he was kicked off a volunteer department for stealing and for mis-use of authority. Then the thought he worked a Careflight but he never did I know this for a fact.

He has been unstable for awhile, 9 years that I know of. No i am not defending him in anyway trust me I want him to get the maximum allowable by law on this for all the shit he has pulled in the past. I hate the fact that our Criminal Justice system would allow him back on the streets to begin with.

**walkingeagle** · December 26th, 2010, 01:57 PM

I must say that I am rather shocked by Drendike and emturdreams. It is very rare to see someone that close who tells it like it is and makes no bones about it! I cannot say that my faith in humanity has been restored, but I do hope that what you two have done in this thread gets a lot of attention from those who choose to defend their friends! Big ups to you both!

**emturdreams** · January 28th, 2011, 11:42 PM

Walkingeagle> if I would have had my way he would have been locked up a long time ago. I don't abide well with people who beat their girlfriend when she is 3 months along, nor ones that use small kids for "training expercises". He has tried to disgrace the reputation of Medics, EMTs and Firefighters all over the nation with his imaginary life.

I am saddened that this little girl had to be placed in this type of situation inorder for justice to be served for his past acts, and my prayers go out to her family and her for a complete (or as complete as possible) recovery.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · October 26th, 2011, 07:35 AM

Ryka Hopper on trial, Prosecutor has her number! :

A Mansfield mother accused of failing to protect her toddler from an abusive boyfriend broke down in sobs under questioning by investigators shortly after the child was rushed to the hospital with debilitating brain injuries.

"I don't know why I didn't go. I don't know why I didn't run," Ryka Telan Hopper told investigators, doubling over in tears. "I was scared."

Tarrant County prosecutors Eric Nickols and Kelly Meador told jurors that Hopper wasn't scared enough to leave Adam Palmer, also of Mansfield. She knew that he had served time in state prison for beating up another young child.

"How long would you watch your child [lie] there unconscious before you call 911?" Nickols asked in his opening statement in Hopper's trial in 213th state District Court.

"It's unimaginable how a parent could watch a kid suffer like this and not do anything. ... All she cared about is keeping a man."

Hopper, 28, is charged with injury to a child by omission for not seeking help to stop the repeated abuse of her young daughter, Ahnnakha White, now 4, who is in a vegetative state in a long-term-care facility.

Palmer, also 28, is awaiting trial on two counts of injury to a child and two counts of aggravated assault, including aggravated assault with a weapon. Palmer served time for an unrelated 2003 child-injury case that occurred at the Mansfield home where Ahnnakha was injured, authorities said.

Defense attorney Brett Boone told jurors that Palmer "beats women and children" and is to blame for the abuse.
[...]

Matson, a pediatric critical-care physician, said Annie is unlikely to recover and will likely die as her brain deteriorates.

"Her brain was disastrously injured," Matson said. "She's in a severely debilitated state."

One juror grimaced and shook her head as he testified.

In the videotaped interrogation by Mansfield Detective Barry Moore and Texas Ranger Trace McDonald that was played for jurors, Hopper said Palmer had threatened to harm her and the children if she sought medical help and said he assured her that Annie wasn't severely injured.
[...]

An older child, then 5, was also injured but not seriously; that child was removed from Hopper's care by Child Protective Services and is living with a relative.

Another witness, Carla Hamilton, told jurors that Palmer was "charming" but abusive and had convinced those around him that he was a firefighter with medical training -- he even had a firefighter's hat, shirt and gear to back it up, she said. Hamilton said she broke up with Palmer when he went to prison in 2008 for violating probation but said she remained friends with him and Hopper after he got out of prison.

Hamilton said she talked to Hopper about Palmer's criminal history and said Hopper knew he had done time for injury to a child.

Prosecutors questioned why Hopper, who lived less than 100 yards from a fire station, didn't just run from the home with her children to seek shelter at the firehouse.

Hopper told investigators she had considered doing that.

"I thought about going to the fence and pushing my babies over the fence, and I knew the firefighters would be there," she said in the videotaped interrogation.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/10...cused-mom.html

**oOXColdmoonXOo** · October 26th, 2011, 08:43 AM

Sounds more like she didn't bother getting help until she was injured herself. Selfish twat.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · October 27th, 2011, 03:37 PM

A Mansfield mother accused of standing by while her toddler was abused by her live-in boyfriend took the stand in her own defense Thursday to tell a rambling, contradictory tale that included repeated admissions that she was a liar.

Ryka Telan Hopper first told jurors in the 213th state district court that she was afraid of her then-boyfriend, Adam Palmer, and had tried to leave after he became abusive.

By the end of her testimony under cross-examination by prosecutor Eric Nickols, she told jurors that she and Palmer had frequently concocted stories together to account for the child's condition.

"Were you lying when you said (to investigators), 'I knew she had a head injury?' " asked Nickols.

"A friend of mine was writing a book," she answered. "I do have a very vivid imagination."
[...]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/10...se-admits.html

**Bohring** · October 27th, 2011, 04:44 PM

"A friend of mine was writing a book," she answered. "I do have a very vivid imagination."

Huh?

**Dakota Valkyrie** · October 28th, 2011, 09:27 AM

A 28-year-old Mansfield mother was convicted Thursday of not protecting her 2-year-old daughter from an abusive boyfriend, resulting in the child's debilitating brain injury.

The six-man, six-woman jury -- some of whom shed tears during the trial -- deliberated just over an hour before finding Ryka Telan Hopper guilty of injury to a child by omission.
[...]

The child, now 4, is in a permanent vegetative state and lives in a nursing home for children in East Texas.

Hopper showed no emotion as the verdict was read in 213th state District Court. The maximum sentence is life in prison.

The boyfriend, Adam Palmer, is awaiting trial on two charges of injury to a child and aggravated assault. He served time in prison for beating another child in 2003.

Prosecutors Eric Nickols and Kelly Meador urged jurors to convict Hopper for failing to seek medical treatment or outside help as the child, called Annie, was repeatedly beaten until she went into cardiac arrest.

"Every day was a nightmare for Annie," an emotional Meador, who is visibly pregnant, told jurors, pointing at Hopper. "What did she do? She sat by and let Adam Palmer beat her baby."

Defense attorneys Brett Boone and Brad Shaw described Hopper as an uneducated woman who was abused physically and emotionally by Palmer.

"There is a despicable, diabolical man out there, and my client fell prey to this man," Shaw said.

"She fell into this man's trap."
[...]

Late Thursday, jurors began hearing evidence in the punishment phase of the trial. They saw a 2-minute video of Ahnnakha in her nursing home room. The child appeared rigid and unresponsive, and moved only briefly, as she lay in a bed in a brightly colored pink-and-yellow room.

Some of the jurors closed their eyes and shook their heads as the video was played, and one woman appeared to be in tears.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/10...nd-guilty.html

**Dakota Valkyrie** · October 28th, 2011, 04:26 PM

A 28-year-old Mansfield mother was sentenced to 40 years on Friday for failing to protect her 2-year-old daughter from an abusive boyfriend, resulting in the child's debilitating brain injury.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/10...nd-guilty.html

**LadyCygnet** · October 28th, 2011, 04:51 PM

It's not a life sentence, but it's better than nothing.

**Tundratot** · October 30th, 2011, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by LadyCygnet

It's not a life sentence, but it's better than nothing.

You're right, but it's a sure thing she won't be having any more babies.

**Whisper** · March 29th, 2012, 10:42 PM

Child abuser gets 50-year sentence

A Mansfield man whose repeated beatings of his girlfriend's young daughter left the child in a permanent vegetative state was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in prison.

Adam Carrol Palmer, 29, who served time in prison for beating another child in 2003, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a weapon causing serious injuries to then-2-year-old Ahnnakha "Annie" White, who is in a nursing home for children in East Texas.

The child's mother, Ryka Telan Hopper, 29, was convicted by a Tarrant County jury in November and sentenced to 40 years in prison for failing to protect the child from her live-in boyfriend's abuse.

"He is a cruel coward," Tarrant County prosecutor Eric Nickols, who tried the case with Kelly Meador, said in a statement. "He preyed on the weakest and most innocent among us. He deserves every second he got."

Palmer's attorney did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Hopper's attorneys had described Palmer as a "despicable, diabolical man" who preyed on the uneducated Hopper. But Hopper took the stand in her own defense and told a rambling, inconsistent tale that included repeated admissions that she was a liar. Testimony during Hopper's trial detailed ongoing abuse against Annie, who at one point was slammed against the television by Palmer. After one incident with Palmer, the child had difficulty walking and talking for 17 days, according to testimony. The child went into cardiac arrest on July 12, 2010, and never recovered.
[...]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/03...#storylink=cpy

**Tundratot** · March 30th, 2012, 02:26 AM

I'd be happier if he got LWOP. But, if he serves all of his sentence -- I know, unlikely -- he'll be an old, old man man when he gets out. Probably suffering from institutionalization and unable to get along in the world. Here's hoping his time in prison is the long haul and full of meetings with bars, concrete walls, sharp sticks, and gun butts.