Her mom’s boyfriend Her mom
I sincerely don’t know how some women will allow their
partners touch their child because they are madly in love. This story is so heart-breaking.
The love she found killed her daughter while she watched and has also sent her
to jail, has the so called lover rots in jail too. Too sad. Like the other day a
man was preaching and saying women look, put your husbands before your kids because
you have known him before them, he should matter to you more than your
children. I just looked at him and hissed in my mind. Really? The story after the cut.
A woman has told how her five-year-old granddaughter was
beaten to death with a toy boat she had made in Sunday School, while her mum
just watched. Little Kati Earnest was just five when she was killed by her
mother’s boyfriend, Tommy Castro, who a jury took just eight minutes to convict
of murder.
beaten to death with a toy boat she had made in Sunday School, while her mum
just watched. Little Kati Earnest was just five when she was killed by her
mother’s boyfriend, Tommy Castro, who a jury took just eight minutes to convict
of murder.
Kati’s mother Kristina Earnest was also convicted in
relation to the killing. She was initially jailed for 50 years after pleading
guilty to causing injury to a child by omission but this was subsequently
reduced to 18 years.
relation to the killing. She was initially jailed for 50 years after pleading
guilty to causing injury to a child by omission but this was subsequently
reduced to 18 years.
Now her 48-year-old gran Shelley Flatt-Blevins – the mother
of Earnest’s ex-boyfriend Nelson Cardwell Junior – has spoken of her sorrow. She
told how her granddaughter was so badly hurt in the attack her spleen split in
two.
of Earnest’s ex-boyfriend Nelson Cardwell Junior – has spoken of her sorrow. She
told how her granddaughter was so badly hurt in the attack her spleen split in
two.
But Earnest did not intervene. She later told lawyers she
thought it would make the “beating” worse for her young daughter.
thought it would make the “beating” worse for her young daughter.
Speaking publicly for the first time since Kati’s death in
2009, Mrs Flatt-Blevins, who lost her son, Kati’s father, to a gun accident
last year, said: “On July 5, 2009, I received a call that will haunt me
forever.
2009, Mrs Flatt-Blevins, who lost her son, Kati’s father, to a gun accident
last year, said: “On July 5, 2009, I received a call that will haunt me
forever.
“They said ‘It’s the police – we’ve got bad news’.
“An officer then told me Kati had died.”
Mrs Flatt-Blevins, went to the hospital near Kati’s home in
Vernon, Texas, and learnt Earnest was claiming her daughter had drowned in the
bathtub.
Vernon, Texas, and learnt Earnest was claiming her daughter had drowned in the
bathtub.
“But according to police Kati had bruises on her face,” she
recalled. “When Kristi was asked about this she said, ‘She was bullied at
nursery’.
recalled. “When Kristi was asked about this she said, ‘She was bullied at
nursery’.
“I knew then she was lying – it sounded suspicious.
“Nelson was there and we wept.”
A few days later both Earnest and a man called Tommy Castro,
her new boyfriend, were arrested on suspicion of Kati’s murder.
her new boyfriend, were arrested on suspicion of Kati’s murder.
Mrs Flatt-Blevins continued: “I learnt from police that an
autopsy on Kati’s body indicated she’d died of blunt force trauma and hadn’t
drowned.
autopsy on Kati’s body indicated she’d died of blunt force trauma and hadn’t
drowned.
“I then learnt that Kristi had confessed to her own
daughter’s murder. I felt sick thinking about my precious little granddaughter.
daughter’s murder. I felt sick thinking about my precious little granddaughter.
“I couldn’t understand how a mother could kill her own
child, especially one as lovely as Kati. It didn’t make any sense.”
child, especially one as lovely as Kati. It didn’t make any sense.”
But it was during the court hearing at Wilbarger County
Court in May 2010 that Mrs Flatt-Blevins learnt the true terror her
granddaughter had endured.
Court in May 2010 that Mrs Flatt-Blevins learnt the true terror her
granddaughter had endured.
She said: “Nelson and I were in court to watch Kristi, who
was then 23, plead guilty to a charge of causing injury to a child by omission.
was then 23, plead guilty to a charge of causing injury to a child by omission.
“The court accepted this plea because they felt her first
confession was false, suspected she’d been lured into admitting murder by
Castro.
confession was false, suspected she’d been lured into admitting murder by
Castro.
“During the court hearing I learnt that she’d stood by and
watched while evil Castro viciously beat Kati black and blue.
watched while evil Castro viciously beat Kati black and blue.
“The judge jailed her for 50 years but the worst was yet to
come – Castro’s trial.”
come – Castro’s trial.”
Mrs Flatt-Blevins and her son returned to the same court for
his trial in October 2011.
his trial in October 2011.
She said: “I sat in court and watched that monster as he
told lie after lie about Kati. He denied killing her, said he was suffering
from kidney stones when she died and was ‘out of it’.
told lie after lie about Kati. He denied killing her, said he was suffering
from kidney stones when she died and was ‘out of it’.
“He called Kati ‘disrespectful,’ and a ‘liar,’ when he took
to the stand.
to the stand.
The court was told how on July 4, 2009, the day Kati died,
Castro accused her of wetting herself in his pride and joy, a Mazda sports car.
Castro accused her of wetting herself in his pride and joy, a Mazda sports car.
As punishment he beat her repeatedly with a wooden boat
she’d made in Sunday school.
she’d made in Sunday school.
Castro hit her on her stomach with the boat, punched her in
the stomach with his fist, and eventually stepped on her abdomen with his full
weight.
the stomach with his fist, and eventually stepped on her abdomen with his full
weight.
Mrs Flatt-Blevins continued: “Medical evidence demonstrated
Kati was choked by Castro too.
Kati was choked by Castro too.
“The severe beating damaged her internal organs. He then
made her carry out military exercises – exercises meant for grown men.
made her carry out military exercises – exercises meant for grown men.
“It was dreadful. She must have suffered. And all the time
her mum watched and did nothing.
her mum watched and did nothing.
“The court was told that later that she said, ‘I feel sick’,
before vomiting. She then got in the bath and died.
before vomiting. She then got in the bath and died.
“She was killed by the people who were meant to care for
her.”
her.”
Castro, then 43, of Texas, was found guilty of murder and
jailed for life.
jailed for life.
Earnest’s sentence was reduced to 18 years. Mrs
Flatt-Blevins said: “It was decided by the court she had also been beaten by
Castro, was a victim too.
Flatt-Blevins said: “It was decided by the court she had also been beaten by
Castro, was a victim too.
“I don’t agree and
think she should never be freed. As Kati’s mother, it was her job to protect
her.
think she should never be freed. As Kati’s mother, it was her job to protect
her.
“Not only did she not protect her she stood there and
watched him beat Kati to death. She didn’t raise a finger to help her poor
daughter.”
watched him beat Kati to death. She didn’t raise a finger to help her poor
daughter.”
“Now I’m struggling
on. I miss Kati and Nelson everyday, she said.
on. I miss Kati and Nelson everyday, she said.
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