ETHAN KIRBY - 3 yo/Autistic - Montgomery County TX

A Conroe man received 50 years in prison for the murder of a 3-year-old autistic child.

Chase Cannon, 29, pleaded guilty Thursday in the 9th state District Court of
Judge Fred Edwards for killing Ethan Scott Kirby. The Montgomery County
District Attorney’s Office recommended Cannon’s sentence.

On Aug. 21, 2008, emergency medical personnel responded to a call at a
mobile home in Conroe and found the child unresponsive, having seizures
and vomiting uncontrollably. An air medical helicopter transported him
to Texas Children’s Memorial Hospital in Houston, where he died two
days later.

The child was the son of Cannon’s girlfriend.

An autopsy revealed the child had numerous injuries, including 79 bruises,
cigarette burns to his feet, a broken arm and a fatal blow to his head.

Hospital personnel immediately notified police due to suspicion of child abuse.
The Conroe Police Department identified Cannon as the only individual
with access to the child during the time the injuries occurred, the
release stated.

Cannon attempted to convince law enforcement
investigators that the child’s injuries were the result of a common
household fall. The number and severity of the injuries were not
consistent with accidental trauma and were clearly indicative of
intentional abuse, according to the DA’s Office.

First Assistant District Attorney Phil Grant said the extent of the injuries told the story of the case.

“I think the evidence really spoke for itself, when you look at the
number, variety and severity of the injuries, it couldn’t be any
clearer than that,” he said. “We’re very satisfied with the agreement.
It’s a good balance for the family to not have to go through a trial
and that Mr. Cannon will likely spend the rest of life in prison.”

Cannon will not be eligible for parole for 25 years, and the District
Attorney’s Office is preparing a packet to submit to the parole board
opposing any award of parole in this case. Grant said the packet will
highlight Cannon’s criminal history, victim impact statements and
additional information to highlight “all the colors behind the black
and white” judgment.

According to Public Data, Cannon was
convicted of assault causes bodily injury in 2002, assault causes
bodily injury to a family member in 2003 and driving while intoxicated
in 2007.

The offenses all occurred in Jefferson County.

District Attorney Brett Ligon hopes the sentence will send a message to county residents regarding the safety of children.

“It seems that we are seeing an increase in tragic child deaths,” Ligon
said. “Let me be clear. Our office will use all the tools in our
arsenal to make sure that those who abuse children never have the
opportunity to do so again. We have a duty to be a voice for those that
no longer have the ability to speak for themselves… hopefully this
brings the family of Ethan Kirby a small measure of peace in the midst
of this terrible tragedy.”