Centralia mom to face charges in 2-year-old daughter's death
CENTRALIA, Wash. -- A mother whose boyfriend was sentenced Wednesday to over 37 years in prison for the abusive death of her 2-year-old daughter will now also face charges related to the toddler's death, prosecutors said Thursday.
Becky Heupel is expected to be charged Friday with second-degree criminal mistreatment, said Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer.
Heupel's daughter Koralynn Fister drowned in a bathtub last May while being watched by Heupel's boyfriend, James Reeder. But investigators discovered that Reeder had repeatedly raped the child and hurt her so badly that patches of skin were missing from her body and her toes, prosecutors said.
"After reviewing all the evidence and speaking with the officers who investigated the case as well as the deputes who handled the prosecution of Mr. Reeder, it is my office's belief that (Heupel) was reckless in her actions and knew of the dangers and chose to disregard that," Meyer said. "And obviously it had tragic consequences."
Reeder accepted an Alford Plea in January where he did not admit guilt but acknowledged that he would likely be convicted. Wednesday, he was sentenced to 37 years after a scathing statement from Thurston County Judge James Lawler saying he wished he could sentence him to 100 years.
Heupel didn't speak at the sentencing, instead having a victim's advocate read her written statement that expressed her anger at Reeder:
"You took both precious gifts of God away from me," Heupel wrote. "You betrayed everyone's trust but most of all my little defenseless baby. Pretending to help me and all the while using my beloved daughter for your own evilness."
But after the sentencing concluded, prosecutors informed Heupel that she too will be charged in the case.
Meyer expressed sympathy for the mother but said she must be punished for her choices.
"We know that what (Reeder) did was unspeakable and he deserved to be punished and he was punished," Meyer said. "And my office wants to make sure everyone who was responsible is being held accountable. We believe she had a role in it as well, by knowing what the risk was being advised of the risk and choosing to put her relationship with Mr. Reeder above the health and welfare of her daughter. "
If Heupel is convicted, the standard sentencing range is 6-12 months, prosecutors said. Meyer said it is unlikely Heupel would be taken into custody.
Becky Heupel is expected to be charged Friday with second-degree criminal mistreatment, said Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer.
Heupel's daughter Koralynn Fister drowned in a bathtub last May while being watched by Heupel's boyfriend, James Reeder. But investigators discovered that Reeder had repeatedly raped the child and hurt her so badly that patches of skin were missing from her body and her toes, prosecutors said.
"After reviewing all the evidence and speaking with the officers who investigated the case as well as the deputes who handled the prosecution of Mr. Reeder, it is my office's belief that (Heupel) was reckless in her actions and knew of the dangers and chose to disregard that," Meyer said. "And obviously it had tragic consequences."
Reeder accepted an Alford Plea in January where he did not admit guilt but acknowledged that he would likely be convicted. Wednesday, he was sentenced to 37 years after a scathing statement from Thurston County Judge James Lawler saying he wished he could sentence him to 100 years.
Heupel didn't speak at the sentencing, instead having a victim's advocate read her written statement that expressed her anger at Reeder:
"You took both precious gifts of God away from me," Heupel wrote. "You betrayed everyone's trust but most of all my little defenseless baby. Pretending to help me and all the while using my beloved daughter for your own evilness."
But after the sentencing concluded, prosecutors informed Heupel that she too will be charged in the case.
Meyer expressed sympathy for the mother but said she must be punished for her choices.
"We know that what (Reeder) did was unspeakable and he deserved to be punished and he was punished," Meyer said. "And my office wants to make sure everyone who was responsible is being held accountable. We believe she had a role in it as well, by knowing what the risk was being advised of the risk and choosing to put her relationship with Mr. Reeder above the health and welfare of her daughter. "
If Heupel is convicted, the standard sentencing range is 6-12 months, prosecutors said. Meyer said it is unlikely Heupel would be taken into custody.
Beautiful name 'Koralynn' and a beautiful little girl~ RIP sweet one~ â¥
Good! If your two year old is repeatedly raped and abused by your own boyfriend to the point that this child has skin missing off of her body, you cannot tell me that you do not know! As far as I am concerned she is just as guilty. She had an obligation to that child to protect her and she did nothing. She should also spend 37 years in jail.
All I can say is, "good"! She deserves so much more, but at least she can no longer stand back and say she is innocent. She was the one person in this world other than the baby's father that was supposed to keep her safe from all evil. Having this on her record will hopefully ruin her life. I can hardly look at that poor baby's face and imagine the torture she endured.
So he is getting off on a technicality? The judge should have thrown the plea bargain out and let it go for a full trial.Â
What a POS! And I have liberals in this state talking about abolishing death penalty?? Raping a child should win you an instant lottery of a 45 acp to the head!!!!
@NickM1979Â I just don't understand how anyone could argue against the death penalty for a crime such as this.Â
Awe sweet baby my heart aches for you.
Gut wrenching, stomaching turning and just overall unbelievable events. I remember when this case first hit the news last year. She knew her daughter was being used, there is no way she couldn't have known. She put having a 'man' ahead of her own child's welfare and ultimately life. She should never have another child.
Remember Eli Creekmore???? The type that do this to helpless kids deserve one thing, death penalty.
When the prosecutor says of the mother, "by knowing what the risk was, being advised of the risk" to what is he referring? Â Was the rapist a convicted sex offender? Â Had authorities warned the mother that he was a risk? Â If she was advised that he was a risk, who advised her? Â Better reporting please to explain this quote.
This is an utterly repulsive story. What will Mama get? So many loving couples cry each night because they can't have children and we read about monters like this. I hope she gets life or hanging! Washington State is one of only two that still hang. Give her the rope.
I shudder remembering the details from last May. Â This 'mother' didn't notice patches of skin missing off her baby? Â She didn't see any symptoms that her boyfriend she just had to have was acting strangely toward her child? Â Wouldn't the child be visibly afraid to be near him? Â Of course, yet she left her in his care. Â The neighbor described blood-curdling screams and knew it wasn't normal and didn't call. Â The whole thing is beyond comprehension, everyone failed that innocent child - everyone!
Mama's boyfriend did to the child what he does to the Mama - he just figured he'd teach the child early, and probably knew the Mama would approve. Like Mama, like daughter, that's what the generation of 40 years of age and under are like today - that and Mama was probably on Welfare, and now crying about the FREE MONEY she lost.
@Laurie You are so ignorant on this issue.
There aren't supposed to be real monsters.....but there are.
what a repulsive story, all around. can't imagine the suffering of this poor, innocent child.
to hear the "mother" try to defend herself is the icing on the cake. while the guy who did these things is a major villain and scum, she brought him into the home, he ignored all the terrible, glaring signs.
come on ladies, lets make some better choices out there...no reason to shack up with a scum like this.
@SwampThing I certainly hope you are using the term "lady" very loosely. This poor child, I've never been a proponent for forced sterilization before, but I'm coming around...
GOOD! She tried to come off all outraged in her statement yesterday, but IMO she deserves a charge of at least depraved indifference, if not contributory negligence!
Is there any real justice here on the earth for this?Â
I intentionally didn't read the article yesterday. I knew it would be too disturbing. I hesitated looking at this most of the day. Sick, just so sick and wicked. Â
I am thankful that the prosecutor is seeking to punish this mother, but it doesn't sound as if justice will be served or possible. How do you get justice for this little girl?
I hope that by prosecuting this mother, maybe others will take their responsibility of protecting their children more seriously.
Doubt it. We will read it again.
@Straight Arrow There is no justice on this earth. Contrary to what many believe there is a God, and I believe He is taking thorough notes. The baby is just fine now away from these oxygen thieves and will judge these 2 monsters accordingly.
@jdoll88 @Straight Arrow I agree that they will ultimately be punished by God for these heinous acts. It sickens me that such a little child could be subjected to such horr, repeatedly.
@Straight Arrow Well said, well said.Â
Yes, if only they WOULD start to put the well-being of their CHILDREN before their own "emotional needs" for a man!
About time we start charging these mothers who dump their kids off with their man of the hour. Â There is no excuse, especially in this case where the abuse was so horrific - there is absolutely no way the mother didn't know!
This whole story just turns my stomach. The only thing that helps is knowing that child molesters are considered the lowest of the low in prison hierarchy. Hopefully there will be a little "prison justice" in the future for this "mother" and her POS boyfriend.
@downtown I'm hoping there will be a lot of "prison justice", long and slow and all the while the mother and her boyfriend knowing they will eventually die a painful death from this justice but not just yet.
This is just tragic on all accounts. Rest in perpetual playland little one where you will only know love.Â
I'm glad they are charging the mom but I don't think she'll get the time she deserves. How could a mother not notice patches of skin missing from her child?
I don't know, maybe it was because I was so over protective of my boy when he was a toddler, but I noticed every mark that appeared on my son. He had the normal ones - paint specks from painting, doodles from when he swiped my pen, bruises from falling down or playing with other kids, and even scratch marks from itching dry skin. He has a gift for getting stuff in tucked away places, like behind the ears.
@queenofthenight That is the most unbelievable part of the whole thing. I notice new marks, scratches and bruises on my grandson quite quickly. Kids get bumps and bruises...they DO NOT loose skin!!! Really? Does this POS honestly believe anyone will believe that? I also cannot believe the neighbor never called someone. Kids cry, but I cant even imagine how you could ignore the screams from this poor angel. It is heart breaking...
@Susabelle @queenofthenight I agree. Most children's activities at 2 wouldn't result in losing skin. I can see an older kid losing a patch of skin after they fell off a bike or skateboard and slid across the cement. I recall a lovely bike accident when I was a kid that result in me having to retrieve a friend's mom.
Hell has a special place for people like this, and I hope she goes there soon. R.I.P. little one.
Prison too.
Too light of a punishment for someone who is supposed to be an advocate for her child! This whole story is really sad!
How the hell can any mother do that to her kid? I hope she rots!
@Zoso Because she had to have a 'man'.
This pathetic excuse of a "mother" chose to look the other way-her fate should be equal to that of her "boyfriend".
In a previous article they had a statement from one of the neighbors who heard the childs "repeated screams" and she did NOTHING about it. Any LOGICAL person w ho heard those frantic screams would call 911 or CPS. The mother is just as guilty. And the neighbor should feel really guilty for not doing anything. So many people failed this precious child and now she is dead
@Nancybratt Wow, you have to wonder about that neighbor. I'd have been on the phone to the police in a heart beat.
@the tide @Nancybratt Me too. I would have dialed 911 immediately if I heard a child scream. How could they fail her so badly??
The mom said "You took both precious gifts of God away from me," Heupel wrote. "You betrayed everyone's trust but most of all my little defenseless baby. Pretending to help me and all the while using my beloved daughter for your own evilness." STFU you POS mom. YOU DID NOTHING TO PROTECT YOUR DAUGHTER SO DON'T SIT THERE AND MAKE THIESE BS STATEMENTS JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE THINKS YOUR GARBAGE. IF YOU LOVED AND CARE FOR HER SHE WOULD STILL BE ALIVE.
Hell no! If the mother knew that this man was a danger to her daughter and she did NOTHING to protect her precious little girl then 6-12 months don't cut it! When I read the story about her boyfriend's sentencing, my first thought was, "If this little girl had been injured so badly, how could the mother not notice what this man was doing to her little girl?"Â
As a mother of a beautiful little 2 year old girl, I would NEVER EVER allow ANYONE to put their hands on my children nor would I EVER choose a man over my children or the safety of my children. I have made a choice to stay single and focus on my children's needs instead of my own. Mothers who choose to have POS men in and out of their children's lives DISGUST me.Â
If that mother knew what that man was doing to her little girl and did nothing to stop it, then she is responsible for that little girl's murder just as much as that POS man is.
@Tattooed_Angel2Â AMEN!!!
One day - these two, as all who commit these horrific crimes against children, will truly pay for their crimes. Today they only face man's feeble attempt at justice. Soon, they will have to face God's perfect system of justice.
This story leaves me completely speechless!! I don't care if it a complete strangers child there is no way in hell I would EVER sit back and do nothing and this was the poor girls mom who did nothing!!! To me that makes it almost worse and she should get just as much time as him. Â
True... passive contribution. Oh wait, she also provided the perp and the place.
She needs to be locked up just as long as he is. There is no way she did not see some of what was happening.
Another foolish single mother choosing a boyfriend over her kid.Â
"choosing to put her relationship with Mr. Reeder above the health and welfare of her daughter"
Yes... thank you Mr Prosecutor. I am so glad to see this spelled out. This is exactly what happens in so many abuse cases. The relationship came first.
Amen to this - I was wondering when I read about the boyfriend sentencing why the Mother wasn't sentenced for something. She had to have seen skin missing and known more than she wanted to admit. These women who stay with a man no matter what the s.o.b. is doing to their child need to be punished for this. I have known of little dogs who would fight to the death for their puppies harder than some women fight for their children.
I have been following this from day 1 and wondered when they charge the mom. How could she have not noticed patches of missing skin? Most mothers would notice injuries right off the bat while bathing their children (unless she left that job for her boyfriend) or she chose to ignore it. I can just imagine the hell this poor little angel went thru and now its time for the mother to pay for her part in this.
I have an 8 year old and if I anybody ever layed a hand on him they better run REAL FAST!!!
@tkyed you cant outrun a good scope.
@Susabelle @tkyed Who are you anyway... one of the DC Snipers? Do you know how mentally disturbed your post sounds?
@the tide @Susabelle @tkyed I guess I get a little worked up when babies are raped and murdered.