Jury Returns Second Guilty Verdict for Baby Grace’s Killers

November 7, 2009 by Cathy Ribble
Filed under: News

A Galveston jury has returned the second guilty verdict in connection with the death of Riley Ann Sawyer, nicknamed Baby Grace until she was identified by authorities.

Royce Clyde Zeigler II, was convicted of capital murder on Friday. The jury deliberated 4-1/2 hours after an eight day trial. Zeigler will receive an automatic life sentence without parole because the prosecution did not seek the death penalty. Jurors could have found him guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

“The two people responsible for her murder have been convicted,” Galveston County District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk said. “It’s a good day for Riley.”

Kimberly Trenor, Riley’s mother, was convicted of capital murder in February. She is currently serving a life sentence.

According to testimony in the case, in July, 2007, Royce Zeigler became upset that the 2-year-old didn’t use “please” and thank you” like he wanted. On what became the last day of her life, Trenor and Zeigler beat her with belts, dunked her head in cold bath water, and then threw her onto a tile floor. An autopsy revealed that Riley died of multiple skull fractures.

The couple then stuffed her body in a plastic box which was hidden for months in a storage shed. Then finally they drove approximately 75 miles to Galveston Bay and dumped the box in October, 2007.

After the verdict was read, Lt. Tommy Hansen of the Galveston County Sheriff’s Department, took off his glasses and wiped away tears after the verdict was read.

Zeigler lied repeatedly to investigators and gave conflicting statements. The prosecution was allowed to show the jury a video in which Zeigler admitted dumping the child’s body.