16 y.o. charged in murder of 21-month old baby

**Jaded** · August 26th, 2008, 02:36 AM

The family of 21-month-old King Stephen McCowan gathered outside their Merced home Monday trying to make sense of the tragedy that struck over the weekend.

Merced police say the 16-year-old cousin called 911 after he couldn't wake King up Sunday morning.

But after further questioning, details from the night before began to unravel.

"The baby was wrestling with his four-year-old brother who was also in the house and they were rough-housing and he had to separate them and punish the four-year-old and the 21-month-old baby, by his word, ‘whipping' the two of them. He then had to punish the baby again for playing in the water in the toilet," Commander Floyd Higdon, Merced Police Department, said.

King's body was covered in bruises when Merced police got to him Sunday morning.

An autopsy is scheduled for later this week.

The 16-year-old juvenile has an outstanding warrant for an unrelated car-jacking violation.

Now, he's also being held on charges of felony homicide and felony child abuse.

And so far, no charges have been filed against the baby's mother.

http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=8899426

**Jaded** · August 26th, 2008, 03:13 AM

More...

Police say the suspect is also the victim’s cousin. The body of the baby was found with wounds on his torso, back and legs — wounds that appeared to be inflicted by a belt.

The suspect was booked into Merced County Juvenile Hall, where he remains on suspicion of homicide and felony child abuse causing great bodily injury or death to a child under 8 years old. Higdon said the teen was also wanted on a carjacking warrant.

The baby and his 4-year-old brother had been left in the care of the suspect for five days by their mother, 26-year-old Laquisha Yvette McCowan, Higdon said.

McCowan had gone to the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday, leaving the two children with the suspect, Higdon said. Although McCowan returned home briefly on Saturday and checked on the children, Higdon said she then returned to the Bay Area. The mother returned home later on Sunday after being called by her family members.

Higdon said the suspect said he had “whupped” both the baby and 4-year-old brother with a belt Saturday night. Some of the wounds on the victims’ body were fresh, while other appeared to be days old, Higdon said. “It was pretty graphic belt injuries,” Higdon said.

Still, Higdon said police won’t know what exactly killed the baby until an autopsy is conducted later this week. During interviews, Higdon said the suspect was cooperative — and at one point became emotional, asking if his actions were responsible for the baby’s death.

**ImmortalOne** · August 26th, 2008, 03:31 AM

... some were days old... DAYS. I bet you she didn't even check that baby out, probably didn't change a fucking diaper when she came to see them during those five fucking days.

That's a big responsibility for a teenager to have been saddled with...

**Shadow** · August 26th, 2008, 03:36 AM

Originally Posted by ImmortalOne

... some were days old... DAYS. I bet you she didn't even check that baby out, probably didn't change a fucking diaper when she came to see them during those five fucking days.

That's a big responsibility for a teenager to have been saddled with...

i'm in agreement with you on this... the mom should be charged as well, for neglect, among other things.

~ceisdsgil

Standard Thought Disclaimer:
These are *my* thoughts. IF you do not like them, Tough! Put on your big girl panties and learn to deal with it.

**SNOOKIE** · August 26th, 2008, 07:55 AM

oh absolutely the mother should be charged. what the hell was she out doing for 5 days? those poor kids

**Gilbrit** · August 26th, 2008, 05:14 PM

King Stephen McCowan

He was a cute little guy.

**Piper** · August 26th, 2008, 05:36 PM

What the hell? Is this 16 year old stupid???? I can't believe that kid didn't realize that his actions killed that baby boy. Shame on him. Double shame on that mom for leaving her babies with a friggin' kid! I think she she should have charges brought against her too!

**nurseronda** · August 26th, 2008, 06:41 PM

It is beginning to look like the biggest part of todays teens are born without common sense or able to control anger issues after reading on DD after awhile. Look at the 14 year-old who didn't know he could open a door handle of a hot car and get out. Are the parents to blame for not teaching them or are those parents the ones who did drugs while the mother was pregnant to blame?

**tricia381** · August 26th, 2008, 11:27 PM

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008
Police say teenager killed baby
Officers say mom left two children in 16-year-old's care for five days.
By VICTOR A. PATTON
vpatton@mercedsun-star.com

A 16-year-old boy is facing homicide charges after Merced police said a 21-month-old baby left in his care turned up dead this weekend.

Police took the teenager into custody after responding to a South Merced home in the 1300 block of West Third Street around 10:30 a.m., where they found the body of King Steven McCowan laying on a bed.

Merced Police Cmdr. Floyd Higdon said police aren't releasing the name of the teen because he's a minor.

Police say the teenager is also the victim's cousin. The body of the baby was found with wounds on his torso, back and legs -- wounds that appeared to be inflicted by a belt.

The teen was booked into Merced County Juvenile Hall, where he remains on suspicion of homicide and felony child abuse causing great bodily injury or death to a child under 8 years old. Higdon said the teen was also wanted on a carjacking warrant.

The baby and his 4-year-old brother had been left in the care of the teenager for five days by their mother, 26-year-old Laquisha Yvette McCowan, Higdon said.

McCowan had gone to the Bay Area on Wednesday, leaving the two children with the teenager, Higdon said. Although McCowan returned home briefly Saturday and checked on the children, Higdon said she then returned to the Bay Area. The mother returned home later on Sunday after being called by her family members.

The teenager had tried to wake the toddler Sunday morning for breakfast -- but the baby wouldn't wake up, Higdon said. The teenager went across the street to get help from neighbors. Higdon said the neighbors entered the home, saw the dead baby and called police.

Higdon said the teenager said he had "whupped" both the baby and 4-year-old brother with a belt Saturday night. Some of the wounds on the baby's body were fresh, while other appeared to be days old, Higdon said. "It was pretty graphic belt injuries," Higdon said.

Still, Higdon said police won't know what exactly killed the baby until an autopsy is conducted later this week. Higdon said the teenager was cooperative during interviews -- and at one point became emotional, asking if his actions were responsible for the baby's death.

The 4-year-old child is currenting being cared for by Merced County Child Protective Services. The child was found with no wounds, but said he had been spanked, Higdon said.

The Merced County District Attorney's Office will determine whether the 16-year-old will be tried as an adult. The mother of the children hasn't been arrested, Higdon said.

The teenager is being held without bail. Police are asking anyone with further information about the death to call the department's anonymous tip line at (209) 385-4725 or Detective Keith Pelowski at (209) 385-4712.

**prettyuglyish** · August 26th, 2008, 11:55 PM

Shame on this mother! You do not, I repeat: DO NOT, leave your children with teenaged boys...especially for 5 fucking days. Christ. They do not have the capacity to deal with small children on their own. Not to mention that they are going through all kinds of hormonal changes at that age and their testesterone is going haywire.

I almost feel sorry for the 16 year old having that kind of responsibility put on him - not that it excuses he behavior whatsoever - but boys (especially) at that age to do not have the tools necessary to deal effectively with young children. A 4 year old & 21 month old? Good God...I was 34 when my kids were that age and I had to give myself Mommy-Time-Outs often. It's not easy.

What was the Mom off doing? I bet the bitch was off playing with her penis.

**tricia381** · August 27th, 2008, 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by prettyuglyish

Shame on this mother! You do not, I repeat: DO NOT, leave your children with teenaged boys...especially for 5 fucking days. Christ. They do not have the capacity to deal with small children on their own. Not to mention that they are going through all kinds of hormonal changes at that age and their testesterone is going haywire.

I almost feel sorry for the 16 year old having that kind of responsibility put on him - not that it excuses he behavior whatsoever - but boys (especially) at that age to do not have the tools necessary to deal effectively with young children. A 4 year old & 21 month old? Good God...I was 34 when my kids were that age and I had to give myself Mommy-Time-Outs often. It's not easy.

What was the Mom off doing? I bet the bitch was off playing with her penis.

I feel exactly the same way. Was there no one else there to help this kids with those babies? She's probably a crack head, why else would a mother just leave her kids with a 16 yo boy?

**Jaded** · August 27th, 2008, 01:44 AM

Caught this one earlier.....:)
http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=7387

**jenthgr8** · August 27th, 2008, 01:57 AM

Originally Posted by nurseronda

It is beginning to look like the biggest part of todays teens are born without common sense or able to control anger issues after reading on DD after awhile. Look at the 14 year-old who didn't know he could open a door handle of a hot car and get out. Are the parents to blame for not teaching them or are those parents the ones who did drugs while the mother was pregnant to blame?

I think this is a problem with all teens and children. I read an article last year about the brain development of a teenager. One interesting fact is that the areas of the brain responsible for rational thought and recognizing consequences doesn't fully develop until they reach their early twenties. All of them are born without common sense, it's up to the parents to beat it into them. (Kidding, beating on them is bad, mmmkay?) Serious, though, teenagers have no sense of logic or reason. How this mother could have left her children with him for 5 fucking days is so far beyond me. This kind of thing did not have t happen. Period.

I hate stories like this, both the teen and the baby feel like victims of a sort to me.

**tricia381** · August 27th, 2008, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by So Jaded

Caught this one earlier.....:)
http://www.dreamindemon.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=7387

lol sorry about that...I should have searched it. my bad.

**Jaded** · August 27th, 2008, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by tricia381

lol sorry about that...I should have searched it. my bad.

That's ok. I've been known to repost one of my own stories. :D

**Dakota Valkyrie** · November 8th, 2008, 07:32 PM

A 16-year-old boy who killed his 21-month-old cousin will spend several years in a juvenile detention facility, after his sentencing Wednesday in juvenile court.

The boy, who isn't being named because he's a minor, was sentenced to life, plus two years and four months, in Merced County Juvenile Court for the death of King Steven McCowan, according to Deputy District Attorney Mark Bacciarini.

Because the defendant wasn't tried as an adult, the sentence means the teenager cannot be held in the state's Division of Juvenile Justice past age 25, Bacciarini said. He could also be paroled before he reaches that age.

Last month, the teenager confessed to a charge of committing an assault resulting in the death of a child. Had he been tried as an adult, he could have faced life in an adult prison.

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/168/story/535839.html

OH! He'll be out just in time to start making his own kids...

**Silvahalo** · November 9th, 2008, 01:26 PM

This mother is absolutely at fault should be charged to the fullest. Abandoning her children to the care of a 16 yr. old.??? Fucking crazy. Even my husband who is all capable of caring for our children, I'd hesitate to leave the boys with him for 5 days...for sanity sake!

The 16 yr. old was very wrong, very brutal in how he "disciplined" his younger siblings. I'm guessing the boy was also disciplined by the brutal belt as a child. Children learn by example. My 5 yr. old is very sweet and gentle with his 14mo. brother...I have watch how he talks to him and when he is upset with him. He mimics mine and husbands behavior. We have never put a brute hand on him so he in kind would never do that to his baby brother...of course I'd never leave him unattended.

The 16 yr. old no doubt knows right from wrong...but the question is what is the right and wrong that he has been taught? he probably thought belting was an appropriate response. I do believe he knew belting would hurt the baby but likely didn't realize how much he could hurt him...kill him. He must be punished but needs necessary help to survive the rest of his life. He will never get over the fact that he killed his baby brother...his life and baby brothers life are gone.

The mother should be fucking punished and never allowed the joy of holding a child and baring one.

Rest in peace baby King...a prince amongst the angels.