EMILY MESSENGER-ECHARD - 4 Months (2009) - Clarksburg WV

Clarksburg WV ---- A Harrison County jury has convicted a man of killing his
four-month-old daughter. Jurors convicted William Echard II, 28, of Clarksburg of one count of
death of a child by parent, guardian or custodian, four counts of child
abuse resulting in injury, three counts of child neglect resulting in
injury, and one count of presentation of false information of a child’s
injuries on Friday, July 2. The jury also found Echard not guilty of two other counts of child abuse
resulting in injury. Echard was also indicted on one count of murder of a child by parent,
guardian or custodian, but that charge was later dropped. Judge Thomas Bedell revoked Echard’s bond, ordered a pre-sentence
investigation, and scheduled Echard for sentencing in August. Harrison County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Echard in July 2009, after
they said his infant child went to United Hospital Center for treatment
of multiple injuries. The injuries were so severe that the child had to be transferred to Ruby
Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, deputies reported. Echard told investigators that the baby would not stop crying while he
was out on his deck with her, so he shook her and in the process dropped
her. He said the little girl landed on her head and shoulders. Later, after a CAT scan revealed that the back of the child’s skull was
fractured and that she had brain damage and torn retinas, Echard
confessed to shaking the child until her head flopped back and forth.
United Hospital Center admitted the infant on July 16, 2009, and
deputies revealed that she died while at Ruby Memorial Hospital on July
20, 2009. Investigators claimed the child’s mother, Amber Messenger, knew Echard
was abusing their child and did nothing to stop the abuse. Messenger is charged with knowingly allowing child abuse resulting in
death and is expected to enter a plea in that matter. Prosecutors announced the agreement at a hearing on June 24, but have
not given further details about the arrangement. A psychological evaluation recently showed Messenger is competent to
stand trial.

A Harrison County woman will be sentenced in September for her role in the death of her four month old daughter, Emily.
On Tuesday, Amber Messenger plead guilty to her own charge of child abuse resulting in death in Harrison County Circuit Court.
The little girl's father, 28-year old William Echard, has already
been convicted of multiple charges of death of a child by a parent and
child abuse and neglect resulting in injury.
Echard faces up to 30 years behind bars when he's sentenced next month.
Messenger's sentence could total 15 years.
The girl suffered severe trauma to the head.

A Clarksburg man convicted of repeatedly injuring and ultimately
shaking his 4-month-old daughter to death will spend 40 years behind
bars.

Harrison County Circuit Judge Thomas Bedell sentenced 28-year-old William Echard on Thursday.

Echard will do 40 years for the 2009 death of his daughter, Emily, plus
another 11 to 49 years for seven counts of child abuse and neglect
resulting in injury.

The judge called Emily’s abuse as disturbing as any case he’s handled
in more than three decades of practicing law and serving as a judge.

Echard continues to proclaim innocence. His lawyers say he will appeal.
Emily’s mother, 22-year-old Amber Messenger, will be sentenced Sept. 15 for child neglect resulting in death.

A Harrison County woman faces three to 15 years in prison for not reporting her own child's abuse, which led to her death. Amber Messenger pleaded guilty to child neglect resulting in death. Messenger's boyfriend, William Echard, was convicted in the death of the four-month-old girl, and is serving 52-90 years in prison. Messenger will be eligible for parole after 3 years.