William Evans was found dead in an Oakley home, and authorities allege he suffered prolonged abuse before his death.
CINCINNATI, OH — A Cincinnati mother and two other women have been charged with murder and child endangering after authorities found 7-year-old William Evans dead inside a home in the city’s Oakley neighborhood, where investigators allege he had endured prolonged physical abuse.
Kaitlin Evans, 38, the boy’s mother, Nessa Keaney, 23, and Kirby Rankin, 33, were arrested after police responded to the Madison Road home on Aug. 6. All three pleaded not guilty during arraignments the following day in Hamilton County Municipal Court. Judge Rodney Harris set bond for each defendant at $1.1 million, including $1 million on the murder charge and $100,000 on the child-endangering charge.
Police identified the child as William Michael Evans. The Hamilton County coroner ruled his death a homicide. Authorities said William had disabilities and lived at the home with the three defendants, whom prosecutors described as sharing responsibility for his care. The murder and child-endangering charges remain allegations, and the defendants have not been convicted.
A Cincinnati homicide detective told the court that William showed signs of repeated physical abuse. Investigators alleged that the abuse had continued for more than two months and included beatings and other forms of mistreatment. Police said the boy was found in a closet and had been restrained with duct tape. Authorities have described the circumstances in restrained but stark terms, with the detective calling the case among the most disturbing child-abuse investigations he had encountered during 21 years in law enforcement.
The detective also testified that investigators believe William was subjected to abuse involving water and burns. Police have not publicly established in court which alleged injuries caused his death. Prosecutors said additional charges could be considered after final autopsy findings and further witness interviews are completed.
Investigators said Rankin made statements about her involvement in what the detective described as a prolonged abuse incident and implicated Evans and Keaney as participants. Those claims have not been proven in court. An attorney for Evans disputed the prosecution’s characterization of her role, arguing during the arraignment that evidence would show another person was responsible for the violence that caused William’s death.
Keaney’s defense also challenged the prosecution’s account. Her attorney said she attempted to provide care to William after he had been injured by someone else in the home. Rankin’s attorney requested a competency evaluation, citing concerns about her mental health, and the judge granted the request. A competency proceeding concerns whether a defendant can understand the case and assist in her defense; it does not determine guilt or innocence.
William’s grandparents, Mike and Tina Evans, told local reporters that their grandson frequently spent time with them before his death. They said William told them during a visit several weeks earlier that he did not want to return home. They also said they later became concerned after seeing an injury and, after losing contact with him, met with an attorney and hired a private investigator. Their account has become part of the broader public record surrounding the case, though authorities have not announced the full timeline of what agencies or other people knew before William died.
William’s family released a statement over the weekend describing the pain of his death and saying they would love and miss him forever. The family also announced plans for a memorial and celebration of his life. The three defendants remain charged as the homicide investigation continues, with final autopsy findings and further court proceedings expected to shape the next stage of the case.
Author note: Last updated August 9, 2026.