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Jury Returns Second Guilty Verdict for Baby Grace’s Killers

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.

         

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Baby Grace Trial: Suicide Note Shown to Jury

A suicide note was introduced into evidence which authorities said was penned by Royce Clyde Zeigler II, on trial for capital murder of his 2-year-old stepdaughter known as Baby Grace.

The note claims his wife’s innocence and that he is guilty of “past sins,” but the note falls short of referring specifically to the death of Riley Ann Sawyers.

Zeigler is accused of killing Riley Ann in a day-long disciplinary session, storing her body for weeks at the couple’s home, and then throwing her body off a bridge in Galveston Bay.  Zeigler admitted to dumping the body in a videotaped interview with authorities.

The Defendant reportedly wrote several suicide notes and then took several pills one week before his arrest in November, 2007.  The defense team claimed that the note was merely another attempt by Zeigler to protect his wife, Kimberly Dawn Trenor.  Trenor was convicted of capital murder in February and received life imprisonment.

Authorities lifted several suicide notes from a notebook which was found in the couple’s bedroom.  The original notes were not located, but forensic document specialists were able to lift impressions left on underlying pages.

FBI Special Agent Gabriel Watts testified for the state today concerning the notes.  The notes were displayed on a large screen for the jury to see.  Watts told the jury that some of the words were difficult, if not impossible, to read because of the difficulty in lifting the impressions.  A suicide note by Trenor had also been lifted, but the defense believes that she never made an attempt on her life.

“I take my own life because of guilt for past sins…which I have confessed before I took my life,” Zeigler wrote.  My wife Kimberly Zeigler is innocent…lived in fear with because of what I would do to her.”

Defense counsel did not cross-examine Watts at this time, choosing instead to call him as a defense witness after the state finishes the presentation of its case.

Prosecutors Kayla Allen and Criminal District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk were expected to call five witnesses today before resting their case.

         

Final Jury Selection Begins in Baby Grace Trial

The final jury selection process begin this morning in the Baby Grace capital murder trial of Royce Clyde Zeigler II, the 2-year-old’s stepfather.

He is accused of beating the child to death and then tossing her body off the Galveston Island railroad bridge.

Little Riley Ann Sawyer was nicknamed Baby Grace until her body was identified.  Zeigler’s wife, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, received life imprisonment after she was convicted of capital murder in this case in February.

It is expected that testimony in the case will begin tomorrow after 12 jurors have been chosen from the 125-member jury pool which was selected two weeks ago.

At least 15 of the potential jurors changed their minds from a few weeks ago, stating that they did not believe they could be fair and impartial in this case.  Intense media coverage of the case has drawn extra caution in the jury selection process from attorneys and Galveston County District Judge David Garner.

Although Trenor’s trial only lasted five days, District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk believes this trial could take up to two weeks.  The prosecution is not seeking the death penalty.  It’s difficult to understand why such a heinous crime as this would not carry the death penalty. Capital murder carries a sentence of life without parole.  Manslaughter carries a sentence that ranges from probation to 20 years in prison.

Defense attorneys Neal Davis III and Dee McWilliams of Houston have questioned Trenor’s version of Riley’s death.

We’ve maintained from the very beginning that Royce had nothing to do with her death,” David said.