A 7-year-old boy named William Evans was found dead in a Cincinnati apartment, leading to murder charges against his mother and two co-parents. The grandparents had hired a private investigator due to fears of abuse.

Cincinnati police reported that Kaitlin Evans, 38, along with co-parents Kirby Rankin, 33, and Nessa Keaney, 23, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of William Evans. Notably, there is a discrepancy in records regarding Rankin's gender, with jail and court databases listing Rankin as male, while police identify Rankin as female.

The case unfolded after a charge nurse called 911, reporting that a barefoot woman had entered the emergency department, collapsed, and claimed someone was trying to kill her and had taken her son. Police and fire department personnel later found William bound in a closet and unresponsive; he was declared dead at the scene.

Cincinnati homicide Detective Kyle Smith testified that William had been severely beaten over the previous two months, describing the case as "probably one of the most disturbing cases of child abuse" he had encountered in decades of law enforcement.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office has charged Kaitlin Evans with murder and child endangerment. The investigation remains ongoing.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).