Guilty Plea Returned in Murder of Four-Year-Old Boy

Wiilliam Shanklin of Hampton, Virginia, was Found Guilty of Murder, Child Neglect and Child Abuse

Charlotte Kuchinsky, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Feb 22, 2007 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

It took the jury less than 90 minutes to return with a guilty plea for thirty-year-old William Shanklin. The Hampton man now stands convicted of the murder of four-year-old Davion Mutts. Still declaring himself to be "not guilty", Shanklin could face the death penalty under Virginia law.

The disappearance of Davion Mutts kicked off a city-wide search in the summer of 2005, when he was reported missing by his aunt and her boyfriend (Shanklin). According to reports obtained from police, Shanklin called his girlfriend Matriesha Turner - - Davion's aunt - - around 9 p.m. on July 14, 2005, to report he couldn't find the boy who he was babysitting. The couple reported having searched the neighborhood for the little boy until around 1 p.m. They then decided to notify the police that the child was missing. The also disclosed, by way of description, that the boy had burns on his hands from a hot water scalding accident prior to his disappearance.

Both police and concerned citizens pulled out all of the stops in an attempt to find the tiny boy. They carefully combed the West Hampton section of the city all day long. Helicopters, search dogs, firefighters, and night-vision equipment; everything was used in hopes of locating little Davion, but to no avail. On Friday morning, a tip was phoned in to the police indicating that the child's body could be found near Briarfield Road. According to police reports, William Shanklin was called to the scene and eventually led them directly to Davion's lifeless body which was located in a wooded area near a pedestrian walkway over the Power Plant Parkway. It was in a shallow grave lightly covered with brush.

According to court transcripts, at that point a search warrant was obtained for the Shanklin home where police uncovered a pair of latex gloves, several firearms, and seven empty bottles of bleach. There was also a cooler full of bleach inside the house, which Shanklin said he used for cleaning. The police also found what they believed to be blood in the kitchen.

Shanklin claimed that Davion burned himself on hot water in the bathroom while he was napping. He told police that he referred to a medical book on the premises, which told him it wasn't necessary to take the small tyke to the hospital for treatment. Instead, he and his accomplices treated the boy's wounds with cocoa butter and then wrapped them with gauze and duct tape. All three admitted that they were jointly caring for the child at the time his injuries happened.

William Shanklin was arrested and charged with the murder of young Davion, as well as two counts of felony child neglect and child abuse.

Matriesha Turner, who for reasons unknown had temporary custody of the child from the boy's grandparents, was charged with felony child neglect and child abuse to which she pleaded guilty in April of 2006. She was convicted last year on one charge each of felony child neglect and felony child abuse for failing to seek medical treatment for Davion's injuries. She faces up to 20 years in prison at her sentencing which is scheduled to take place in March of this year

Vivian Shanklin, William's mother is also charged with child neglect and child abuse. She is scheduled to stand trial for the same charges as Turner. Her trial is expected to begin in April of this year.

The coroner's autopsy showed that the tiny boy died from "inflicted brain injury" and "shaken baby syndrome." It was also obvious that the child had been severely beaten. The skin on the boy's hands, buttocks, and ankles was severely burned and falling off his body. He had two black eyes and a liver damaged by what was likely one or more blows to the stomach. The medical examiner also testified at the grand jury hearing that the child was struck violently in the head between 10 and 13 times. His neck was snapped by someone who placed a knee on his back and then wrenched his head backward. Human fingernails caused additional injuries on the child's body and older scars were likely caused by using a switch. There were also old second degree burns.

Prosecutors contended that William Shanklin, his mother, and the boy's aunt, Matriesha Turner, all played a role in the severe abuse and trauma that led to Davion's death. However, they claimed that Shanklin was ultimately responsible for the boy's death as well as for the attempted burial cover-up.

Defense attorneys acknowledged that Davion was indeed abused, but claimed that the evidence gathered by the police did not prove exactly who killed the child.

The jury ultimately chose to believe prosecutors, returning with a guilty plea within 90 minutes. One juror reported that many felt Shanklin's attempt to hide the child's body was a deciding factor.

Published by Charlotte Kuchinsky

I'm an author, columnist and poet. I have done extensive business, creative and technical writing and written curriclum for high schools, colleges and universities. I am currently the principal writer for a... View profile

Four-year-old Davion Mutts died of "inflicted brain injury" and "shaken baby syndrome."
Shanklin, who was babysitting the boy at the time of his death attempted to hide his body.
It took the jury less than 90 minutes to return with a guilty plea.

The autopsy reported the child's neck was snapped by someone who placed a knee on his back and then wrenched his head backward. He had also been struck violently in the head between 10 and 13 times.

Guilty Plea Returned in Murder of Four-Year-Old Boy

Wiilliam Shanklin of Hampton, Virginia, was Found Guilty of Murder, Child Neglect and Child Abuse

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