Ronnie Paris

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ronnie Antonio Paris (December 9, 2001 - January 28, 2005) was a three-year-old African American boy who lived with his parents in Tampa, Florida. He died on January 28, 2005, due to brain injuries stemming from severe abuse at the hands of his father, who thought the child would turn out to be gay, and forced the boy to box with him in an effort to keep him from growing up "soft" or becoming a "sissy."

1 The background
2 The trial
3 The aftermath
4 See also
5 External resources
6 References

[edit] The background

In May 2002, the Florida Department of Children and Family Services removed Ronnie from his home and placed him in protective custody, after he was admitted to the hospital for repeated vomiting, and doctors determined he was undernourished and had a broken arm.

On December 14, 2004, five days after his third birthday, Ronnie was returned to his parents. On January 22, Ronnie slipped into a coma after falling asleep on a couch at a family friend's house, where his parents were attending a Bible study. Upon realizing he was unconscious, his parents rushed in to the hospital. Ronnie died six days later, when he was removed from life support.^[1]

During an investigation of the child's death, his mother -- Nysheera Paris -- told detectives that her husband -- Ronnie Paris, Jr. -- had repeatedly abused the child, slapping him in the back of the head, slamming him into walls, and forcing the child to participate in father-son boxing matches until the boy began to shake, cry, and wet himself.^[2]

[edit] The trial

The child's father was charged with murder and aggravated child abuse. His mother was charged with child neglect and failing to get medical attention for her son.^[3]

In July 2005, Ronnie Paris Jr. went on trial for his son's murder.

During the trial, Nysheera Parish testified that her husband thought their son might be gay, and that he would smack the boy in the back of the head and slam him into walls because he didn't want his son to grow up "soft." Her testimony was corroborated by her sister, Shanita Powell, who said "He was trying to teach him how to fight," and told the court "He was afraid the child might be gay."

Family friend Sheldon Bostick, who attended Bible study with the Paris family, testified that Ronnie Paris, Jr., "slap-boxed" with his son because "He didn't want him to be a sissy."^[4]

Forensic pathologist Dr. Sam Gulino noted the child's scarred face and bruised head, and told the court that the lethargy and vomiting spells, the coma and eventual death were due to head trauma that was not accidental but deliberately inflicted.

The child's foster mother testified that during the two years he lived with her, Ronnie never vomited, and had a healthy appetite.^[5]

[edit] The aftermath

In July 2005, after three hours of deliberation^[6], a jury convicted Ronnie Paris, Jr. of second degree manslaughter and aggravated child abuse in the death of his son ^[7], Ronnie Antonio Paris. On August 19, 2004, he was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. ^[8] Nysheera Paris was later sentenced to 5 years probation for culpable negligence in the death of her son^[9]