The Hamilton County coroner confirmed that 7-year-old William Evans-Ellis, found duct-taped and unresponsive in a closet in Cincinnati's Oakley neighborhood on Aug. 6, died from blunt force trauma to the head. Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco reported multiple injuries, including a severe elbow fracture and numerous bruises of varying ages. Three women who lived in the home—Kaitlin Evans, Nessa Keaney and Kirby Rankin—were indicted on 13 counts and have pleaded not guilty. Investigators recovered encrypted messages and say forensic evidence is part of an active probe that could lead to a death-penalty decision.
Cause of Death Confirmed for 7-Year-Old Found Bound in Closet; Three Women Plead Not Guilty
William Evans-EllisCredit: GoFundMe
The Hamilton County coroner has confirmed that 7-year-old William Evans-Ellis, who was discovered duct-taped and unresponsive inside a closet in his Cincinnati Oakley home on Aug. 6, died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Medical Findings
At a press conference on Aug. 11, Hamilton County Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco said the child sustained multiple injuries. In addition to the fatal head trauma, the coroner reported a comminuted supracondylar fracture of the distal humerus (a severe elbow break in which the bone above the joint is shattered), numerous bruises of varying ages, and other trauma indicating repeated injuries over time. Sammarco said evidence suggested William may have been deceased in the closet for approximately a day and described the scene as too graphic for detailed public description.
Mug shots of Kaitlin Evans, Nessa Keaney and Kirby RankinCredit: Hamilton County Sheriff's Office
Arrests, Charges and Court Proceedings
Three women who lived together in the home and were said to co-parent William—Kaitlin Evans (38), Nessa Keaney (23) and Kirby Rankin (33)—were arrested and later indicted on 13 counts, including aggravated murder, kidnapping and child endangerment. The defendants pleaded not guilty in court on Aug. 14. Each had bond set at $1.1 million.
During an earlier court appearance, a veteran homicide detective described a pattern of injuries consistent with repeated physical assaults, including blunt-force wounds from a striking device to the face, torso and extremities. Investigators also reported signs that the child may have been choked and held underwater for an extended period, and that there were indications of burn injuries.
William Evans-EllisCredit: GoFundMe
Evidence and Ongoing Investigation
Court filings indicate investigators recovered messages on the encrypted Signal app that prosecutors say show communication between the three women about a plan related to the crime between July 1 and Aug. 6. Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said authorities continue to investigate and are reviewing whether the death penalty is warranted.
Local reports note that William had mental disabilities and that he was the son of Kaitlin Evans. Officials said no other children were found in the residence. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office and other authorities have provided limited additional public comment beyond the press briefing and court statements as the probe continues.
If You Suspect Child Abuse
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Note: This article summarizes official statements and local reporting about an ongoing criminal investigation. Allegations are charges and suspects are entitled to due process.
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