Reeves said he loved Son he beat to death

On March 17, 2010, Niki Reeves watched her husband, John Reeves, savagely beat her 4-year-old-son, Lawrence King III. She did nothing to intervene in the attack. Instead, Reeves said since she could not stop Reeves from beating Lawrence, she went upstairs to her bedroom, turned on the radio and turned the music up loud enough to drown out the cries and screams coming from her son downstairs.

Not that hearing John in excruciating pain affected Niki or caused her any alarm. She was afraid the noise would wake up the other kids.

As Niki jammed to her favorite music, Reeves punched Lawrence with his fists and hands, smacked him with a leather belt, and repeatedly smashed his head into a wall. Lawrence had misbehaved and this was his punishment.

She waited one hour after Lawrence fell unconscious before calling 9-1-1.

This beating was not the first that John had inflicted on his stepson, nor the only time Niki turned a blind eye to the abuse Lawrence experienced.

Lawrence Passes Away

Lawrence died of bleeding of the brain, swelling of the brain, and abdominal injuries less than one hour after he was rushed to Franklin County Hospital in Ohio. Upon arrival, his body was black and blue with bruises.

Nikki had regained custody of Lawrence just three weeks prior to his death after the state removed him from her care due to neglect. Before this, his paternal grandmother had custody.

Niki had three other children, one of whom she gave birth to another child around the same time she regained custody of Lawrence.

Prior Children Services Investigations

Niki had on three prior occasions been investigated after the Department of Children’s Services received child abuse complaints against her. Only one of the complaints was substantiated.

John Sentenced

John pleaded guilty to aggravated murder. In court, he tearfully apologized to the King family and stated, “I would never ever hurt no child, ever, and I just want to say that I apologize for this whole stressful situation.” He went on to tell the court and John’s family that he “loved the little boy more than anybody will ever know.” Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Julie Lynch replied, "Trust me when I tell you, no one needs that kind of love." He was sentenced to 25-years to life. John currently serves his time at the Mansfield Correctional Institute.

Niki Sentenced

During sentencing, Lawrence Reeves II became so emotional and angry the judge asked him to control himself or leave the courtroom.

Niki was sentenced to 15-years in prison on involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment convictions.

Niki said that she loved her son and missed him with all of her heart. As Judge Lynch sentenced Niki, she said, “There is no sentence, there is no punishment that can give you a soul, that can make you want to protect a child.” She served her sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women and has since been released.

Shocking Child Abuse Statistics

An average of four to seven kids loses their lives each day as a result of child abuse. Most often the children suffer horrific abuse at the hands of their parents, the people who should do anything to keep them safe and protected.

More than 3.6 million referral calls are made to child protective services on behalf of more than 6.6 million children each year. One call is made each second of the day.

*Statistics gathered from ChildHelp.org*

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