MILAM COUNTY, TX — The bond set for a suspect charged with capital murder in the death of a 20-month-old Rockdale girl is now $3 million, Milam County prosecutors said.
The Milam County District Attorney’s Office had previously said prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a woman indicted on a capital murder charge after a 20-month-old was found dead in December 2018 in Rockdale.
Rockdale police said they began their initial investigation after receiving the 911 call where they found 20-month-old Patricia Ann “Annie” Rader dead.
According to the arrest affidavit, Boniello admitted to punching, slapping, shaking and squeezing the baby until she was motionless. The affidavit said Boniello told police she squeezed the victim until she felt her bones begin to pop and crush out of anger and frustration. She said she did it for at least three minutes.
The affidavit stated the baby was found dead with scratches, bruising and swollen knots on her head, neck, arms, stomach and legs. This happened while the child’s grandfather was at work, according to police.
Boniello goes by Shayla Boniello and is a transgender woman, police say.
Thomas and Rachel Bond, the great uncle and great aunt of Annie, said Boniello was dating the toddler’s grandfather, Michael Matthews.
According to the Department of Family and Protected Services, a Milam County Judge appointed Matthews as Annie’s guardian on May 4, 2018.
Thomas and Rachel said Boniello moved in with the grandfather at a home in the 700 block of San Gabriel Street in November.
The couple said they only interacted with Boniello twice, including Thanksgiving.
“She acted like she loved the baby. She acted like she was there to take care of her,” Thomas said.
They said they were shocked to find out the 30-year-old committed the crime.
“It was horrible. We were completely devastated. Our hearts are completely broken,” Rachel said.
They have been advocating for the District Attorney to pursue the death penalty since they learned about the murder.
“Until we get a death penalty conviction for him, we won’t stop. This has consumed us every day we wake up,” Rachel said. “He showed Annie absolutely no mercy while he sat her and beat her to death so he deserves no mercy.”
Police said Boniello put the baby in further danger by smoking marijuana in the presence of the baby. During a search of the home, marijuana and pipes were found next to the bed where the baby had been, the affidavit said.
Originally posted at: https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/cubans-growing-weed-in-america
A woman accused of fatally beating a Texas baby in December 2018 has been convicted of capital murder and sent to prison for life without the possibility of parole.
NBC KXAN reports that Shayla Boniello, 30, pleaded guilty to murder, the Milam County District Attorney said on Thursday morning.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Boniello admitted that she punched, slapped, shook, and squeezed 1-year-old Patricia “Annie” Rader out of frustration. Boniello confessed that she assaulted the baby until she stopped moving.
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Rader reportedly sustained extensive injuries, including lacerations, knots, and bruising all over her body. Court documents stated that Boniello confessed to squeezing the girl for three minutes, “until she felt her bones begin to pop and crush,” according to an affidavit.
Emergency crews responded to the baby’s grandfather’s home in Rockdale on December 3, 2018, following reports of an unresponsive child. She was pronounced dead at the residence.
The same day, Boniello was arrested and charged with child endangerment. A day later, she was charged with capital murder.
Annie’s grandfather had temporary custody of the child when the murder occurred. According to KXAN, the grandfather was in a relationship with Boniello, who had moved in with him after the pair met on a dating site.
According to the Facebook page, “Justice for Annie,” the baby’s family members were not happy with Boniello’s sentencing and instead, wanted her to get the death penalty.
“Our family is disappointed with the fact that the death penalty was taken off the table, life in prison isn’t a severe enough penalty for what was done to Annie.”
Rachel Bond, the great-aunt of Annie, told ABC 25 that since Bonielo “showed Annie absolutely no mercy whatsoever,” the killer shouldn’t receive mercy either.
According to The Eagle, however, the prosecution reviewed the case and determined that Boniello has a traumatic brain injury and a nonviolent past. Those two factors played into the decision to give her life in prison instead of death.
“Boniello’s nonviolent past and traumatic brain injury would render any death verdict insufficient and thus be reversed on appeal,” Milam County District Attorney Bill Torrey.
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[Featured Photo: Shayla Angeline Boniello/Milam County Sheriff’s Office; Patricia Ann Rader/Facebook]
Orginally published at: https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2101877027724/update-baby-girl-beaten-squeezed-until-her-bones-popped-and-crushed-by-grandfathers-live-in-girlfriend?fbclid=IwAR0wjES9uYWyxHz6yW9DyDy6KFeAbBCv16sfQRmP1M3xgrY2hlBCeRUH-kU
Originally posted at: https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/cubans-growing-weed-in-america