Hamilton County coroner Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco revealed on August 11 that a 7-year-old Cincinnati boy found dead inside a closet had suffered blunt force trauma to the head, along with a broken bone and what she called “too many bruises to count.”
The victim, William Michael Evans-Ellis, was discovered bound with duct tape on the afternoon of Aug. 6, 2026, at a Cincinnati apartment complex. Authorities determined he had been subjected to torture and believe he may have been sexually assaulted. According to investigators, the child had been deceased for at least a day prior to discovery.
Three adults who shared a household with William now face 13 criminal charges each following a grand jury indictment. The accused are the boy’s mother, Kaitlin Evans, 38, and her two partners, Nessa Keaney, 23, and Kirby (Nathan) Rankin, 33. Their charges include aggravated murder, kidnapping, assault, child endangerment, and conspiracy.
Prosecutors Describe Systematic Failure
Hamilton County prosecutor Connie Pillich characterized the defendants’ actions as a complete abandonment of their duty to protect William. “They failed miserably as parents,” Pillich said. “They committed atrocious acts causing this child to suffer terribly.”
Pillich stated she intends to pursue the case vigorously to guarantee the three defendants remain incarcerated and pose no threat to other children. Each is currently held on a $1.1 million bond.
The breadth of the indictment reflects what prosecutors describe as sustained violence against the boy. Charges related to kidnapping suggest authorities believe William’s movements were deliberately restricted by the adults tasked with caring for him.
False Report Led to Grim Discovery
When William was initially reported missing, Evans told authorities that one of her partners had taken the child. That claim eventually guided investigators to the apartment where they made the horrific discovery of his body duct-taped inside a closet.
The boy’s grandparents had seen him just weeks earlier, with photographs and videos capturing him appearing happy and uninjured. Those memories now clash painfully with the reality of how he was found.
Evidence Points to Prolonged Abuse
The coroner’s findings on Aug. 11 painted a picture of extensive trauma. William’s injuries—head wounds, a fractured bone, and countless bruises covering his body—suggested to investigators that he endured deliberate and ongoing violence rather than a single attack.
The fact that the child lay dead for at least a day before being located has intensified the anguish felt by those who knew him. According to the coroner, the pattern of injuries indicated abuse that likely occurred over an extended period.
Keaney and Rankin resided with Evans and her son in what relatives and authorities described as a shared living situation.
Family Grapples With Incomprehensible Loss
William’s extended family members have been left reeling by the stark contrast between the child they knew and the condition in which he was found. Recent images showed a smiling boy at ease, a version of William that seems impossible to reconcile with the suffering he endured.
The case now advances toward trial, with prosecutors pledging to seek maximum penalties under Ohio law. For a boy whose loved ones remember him as joyful just a short time before his death, the criminal proceedings offer the only remaining path to justice for a child who had no ability to defend himself from those who should have protected him.
