CHEREE GOARD - 13 months (2009) - Gilbert AZ

Gilbert AZ ----The trial of a Gilbert man accused of killing his girlfriend's 13-month-old baby
last spring has been postponed for a third time and will be held in Maricopa
County Superior Court this summer, court records state.
David Arnold Reed III, 23, is awaiting trial on charges of first-degree murder
and child abuse in the death of Cheree Goard. His trial was to begin Feb. 22
after receiving a new judge, but it has since been pushed to June 15.

Gilbert investigators believe
Reed abused the 13-month-old, who died May 9, following a two-day stay in the
hospital.

Reed has maintained he didn't
abuse the child and said he picked up the girl from her maternal grandmother's
home and returned to his home on the 500 block of South Pandora Drive, police
reports show.

He told police the toddler rolled
from bedroom couch as he stepped away to throw her dirty diaper. When he
returned, the child was on the floor unresponsive and gasping for breath, police
reports state.
An autopsy revealed the child
died from blunt-force trauma to the head. The report showed the child suffered
two 5-inch-long skull fractures on each side of her skull and there was
"extensive swelling" of the brain.

There was also a healing fracture
of the collarbone and a radial fracture of the right arm.

Mistrial in man accused in toddler's beating death

Associated Press - August 12, 2010 8:34 PM ET

GILBERT,
Ariz. (AP) - A Gilbert man charged with fatally beating his
girlfriend's toddler will face retrial next month after a jury
deadlocked in his first trial.

The jury failed to reach a verdict on murder
charges against 23-year-old David Arnold Reed III, and Maricopa County
Superior Court Judge Robert Gottsfield ruled a mistrial on July 28.

Reed is scheduled to be retried on Sept. 21
on charges of first-degree murder and child abuse in the May 9, 2009,
death of 13-month-old Cheree Goard.

An autopsy showed Cheree died from a blow to
the head, had 5-inch fractures on each side of her skull and extensive
brain swelling. There was a healing fracture of her collarbone and a
fracture of her right arm.

Reed says he was changing the girl's diaper on the couch, and she rolled off after he stepped away to throw it in the trash.

Reed remains in custody.


Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com

A Gilbert man has entered a plea agreement in the child-abuse death of his former girlfriend's baby daughter.Maricopa County prosecutors say 23-year-old David Arnold Reed III pleaded guilty Thursday to one count each of manslaughter and child abuse. His sentencing is set for Oct. 25.Reed's first trial ended in a hung jury in July. He initially was charged with first-degree murder in the May 2009 death of 13-month-old Cheree Goard after investigators found signs the child had previously been abused.An autopsy showed the toddler died from a blow to the head, had 5-inch fractures on each side of her skull and extensive brain swelling. There was a healing fracture of her collarbone and a fracture of her right arm.

Gilbert man sentenced to 10 years in death of baby girl

I'd hardly call 10 years justice. He'll be out before he's 33 and can have a nice life

A 23-year-old Gilbert man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the death of his former girlfriend's baby daughter. David Reed was also sentenced Friday to lifetime probation for domestic violence. The sentence was handed down by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Gottsfield. Reed's first trial ended in a hung jury in July. He initially was charged with first-degree murder in the May 2009 death of 13-month-old Cheree Goard after investigators found signs the child had previously been abused. Reed later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and child abuse.Reed told police was changing the young child's diaper on the couch and she rolled off after he stepped away to throw the diaper in the trash, police reports indicate.When he returned, Reed told investigators the child was on the floor unresponsive and grasping for breath, the reports state. Cheree died two days later in the hospital. The autopsy report revealed the child died from blunt-force trauma to the head.The report showed the child suffered two 5-inch-long fractures on each side of her skull and there was "extensive swelling" of the brain and subdural bleeding. There was also a healing fracture of the collarbone and radial fracture of the right arm.