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WTF! Is this justice for Adrianna??
Adrianna Neal would only have been 10 when her mother's former boyfriend walks free.
Desmond Maurice Cornelius, 27, beat the little girl repeatedly. When she died in 2011 at the age of 2, she had three fractured ribs, a broken left hand, a perforated intestine, multiple bruises. He was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison, and an additional seven on extended supervision, in the girl's death.
Cornelius, of Milwaukee, was charged in 2012 with four counts of physical child abuse and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the death of the girl. Adrianna's mother, Tammy M. Silva, 26, also was charged in 2012 with child neglect resulting in death and two counts of failure to act to prevent bodily harm to a child.
Both took plea deals in June in the middle of their joint trial, after one of Silva's other children testified about beatings that occurred in the home. As a result of their pleas — Cornelius pleaded no contest and was found guilty, and Silva pleaded guilty — prosecutors reduced some of the charges.
Sentencing for Silva is set for Aug. 12. Her remaining children — Adrianna's twin brother, a now 5-year-old sister and a now 9-year-old brother — are in foster care.
A report filed by the state Department of Children and Families after Adrianna's death shows the agency received a report June 1, 2011, of alleged neglect of one of Adrianna's siblings, and that investigation was ongoing when Adrianna's death occurred.
Child welfare officials had received five other allegations prior to 2011:
■In 2006, three reports of maltreatment were investigated and deemed unsubstantiated. Silva was connected with social services.
■In 2009, a report of maltreatment was again found to be unsubstantiated and the children determined to be safe. Silva was already receiving community services, so the case was closed.
■In 2010, a report of maltreatment was found to be unsubstantiated, but Silva was referred to a "needed community service."
After Adrianna's death, the agency determined Cornelius physically abused Adrianna and Silva neglected her. One of Adrianna's siblings had multiple suspicious marks on his body, and several family members reported that Cornelius often hit the children. Silva denied her boyfriend hit the children. The child welfare case remains open.
Although family members told child welfare and law enforcement officials that they suspected abuse, many changed their stories.
"The families of both circled the wagons," Assistant District Attorney Matthew Torbenson said during sentencing.
On a recorded phone call from jail, Silva can be heard saying "everybody's story change, I'm outta here," according to a criminal complaint charging her with eight counts of victim intimidation.
Torbenson conceded that investigators were not sure who delivered the fatal blow to Adrianna, but Cornelius and Silva were the only two people responsible for the toddler when she was injured, he said.
"What we do know is that this defendant repeatedly beat them," Torbenson said.
Adrianna was found dead just before 7 a.m. July 12, 2011, in a West Allis home where Cornelius' mother lived. Silva told authorities her daughter had fallen off a porch in their Milwaukee home the day before and was sick, according to court records.
Silva said Adrianna was vomiting and thought a cooler environment would help the toddler, who was sweaty, so she took Adrianna to the West Allis home, which has air conditioning. Those in the house tried to give her liquids, but she was dead by morning.
The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office ruled Adrianna's death a homicide, noting in reports that her injuries were inconsistent with being caused by a short fall. Her cause of death was the perforated intestine, caused by blunt force trauma to her torso.
One of Silva's relatives also said that two days before Adrianna's death, Silva arrived at a birthday party with her oldest son. About an hour later, Cornelius showed up with the twins and Adrianna had a dark, purple knot on her head and her nose was swollen and red, the relative said.
Other relatives said they had witnessed Cornelius and Silva hitting the children.
Richard Poulson, a lawyer representing Cornelius on Wednesday, said those statements were contradicted at trial and that he would consider those with changing statements to be unreliable witnesses.
Poulson added that although Cornelius was convicted of substantial battery in 2003, he had served his time and had only two city ordinance violations since then.
Cornelius was among 49 gang members and associates who were federally indicted in 2005, but his case was dismissed.
Before sentencing Cornelius to six years in prison — one more year than prosecutors recommended — Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey A. Wagner called Cornelius "despicable" for his actions and for failing to get the toddler medical treatment.
Adrianna Neal would only have been 10 when her mother's former boyfriend walks free.
Desmond Maurice Cornelius, 27, beat the little girl repeatedly. When she died in 2011 at the age of 2, she had three fractured ribs, a broken left hand, a perforated intestine, multiple bruises. He was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison, and an additional seven on extended supervision, in the girl's death.
Cornelius, of Milwaukee, was charged in 2012 with four counts of physical child abuse and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the death of the girl. Adrianna's mother, Tammy M. Silva, 26, also was charged in 2012 with child neglect resulting in death and two counts of failure to act to prevent bodily harm to a child.
Both took plea deals in June in the middle of their joint trial, after one of Silva's other children testified about beatings that occurred in the home. As a result of their pleas — Cornelius pleaded no contest and was found guilty, and Silva pleaded guilty — prosecutors reduced some of the charges.
Sentencing for Silva is set for Aug. 12. Her remaining children — Adrianna's twin brother, a now 5-year-old sister and a now 9-year-old brother — are in foster care.
A report filed by the state Department of Children and Families after Adrianna's death shows the agency received a report June 1, 2011, of alleged neglect of one of Adrianna's siblings, and that investigation was ongoing when Adrianna's death occurred.
Child welfare officials had received five other allegations prior to 2011:
■In 2006, three reports of maltreatment were investigated and deemed unsubstantiated. Silva was connected with social services.
■In 2009, a report of maltreatment was again found to be unsubstantiated and the children determined to be safe. Silva was already receiving community services, so the case was closed.
■In 2010, a report of maltreatment was found to be unsubstantiated, but Silva was referred to a "needed community service."
After Adrianna's death, the agency determined Cornelius physically abused Adrianna and Silva neglected her. One of Adrianna's siblings had multiple suspicious marks on his body, and several family members reported that Cornelius often hit the children. Silva denied her boyfriend hit the children. The child welfare case remains open.
Although family members told child welfare and law enforcement officials that they suspected abuse, many changed their stories.
"The families of both circled the wagons," Assistant District Attorney Matthew Torbenson said during sentencing.
On a recorded phone call from jail, Silva can be heard saying "everybody's story change, I'm outta here," according to a criminal complaint charging her with eight counts of victim intimidation.
Torbenson conceded that investigators were not sure who delivered the fatal blow to Adrianna, but Cornelius and Silva were the only two people responsible for the toddler when she was injured, he said.
"What we do know is that this defendant repeatedly beat them," Torbenson said.
Adrianna was found dead just before 7 a.m. July 12, 2011, in a West Allis home where Cornelius' mother lived. Silva told authorities her daughter had fallen off a porch in their Milwaukee home the day before and was sick, according to court records.
Silva said Adrianna was vomiting and thought a cooler environment would help the toddler, who was sweaty, so she took Adrianna to the West Allis home, which has air conditioning. Those in the house tried to give her liquids, but she was dead by morning.
The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office ruled Adrianna's death a homicide, noting in reports that her injuries were inconsistent with being caused by a short fall. Her cause of death was the perforated intestine, caused by blunt force trauma to her torso.
One of Silva's relatives also said that two days before Adrianna's death, Silva arrived at a birthday party with her oldest son. About an hour later, Cornelius showed up with the twins and Adrianna had a dark, purple knot on her head and her nose was swollen and red, the relative said.
Other relatives said they had witnessed Cornelius and Silva hitting the children.
Richard Poulson, a lawyer representing Cornelius on Wednesday, said those statements were contradicted at trial and that he would consider those with changing statements to be unreliable witnesses.
Poulson added that although Cornelius was convicted of substantial battery in 2003, he had served his time and had only two city ordinance violations since then.
Cornelius was among 49 gang members and associates who were federally indicted in 2005, but his case was dismissed.
Before sentencing Cornelius to six years in prison — one more year than prosecutors recommended — Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey A. Wagner called Cornelius "despicable" for his actions and for failing to get the toddler medical treatment.
