Ronald Vernon Legette, 28, is charged with capital murder, and Portia Marquise Waller, 30, is charged with injury to a child with intentional injury in the death of their 2-year-old girl, Killeen police said.
On April 29, 2023, officers responded to McLane’s Children’s Hospital regarding an injured 2-year-old child, where abuse was suspected. The child was reported to have a subdural hematoma to the head and multiple rib fractures.
Killeen police said the child suffered respiratory failure and died as a result of her injuries on May 2, 2023. An autopsy concluded the child had a skull fracture and her cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries to her brain.
“Through the investigation, it was determined that the victim’s father and mother would strike the victim with a belt and stick,” Killeen police said, “The victim’s father used a closed fist to spank the victim and would push and shake her.”
The child’s mother allegedly told police she saw Legette strike their children using his fists and other objects but focused the abuse on the 2-year-old. Around one week before her death, the child’s mother said Legette struck the child’s head with a stick.
Father charged with capital murder in death of toddler: Killeen police
Ronald Vernon Legette, 28, is currently in Bell County Jail for Capital Murder, Killeen Police Department says.
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