Posted on 11/19/2009 7:37:50 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
[SNIP]
Charged Tuesday
According to a criminal complaint, Charles Avey wrapped a necktie around Cody's neck and strangled him Sunday afternoon inside a minivan parked at a Germantown Wal-Mart. He was charged Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court with first-degree intentional homicide in Cody's death.
He admitted to killing Cody as payback to the boy's mother, the complaint says. The killing occurred within an hour or so of Trista Avey going to the Grafton Police Department and reporting an assault at the hands of her husband one week earlier.
Charles Avey allegedly started strangling her inside the couple's Grafton apartment after an argument on Nov. 8, according to a criminal complaint. He pounded her head, arms and back with a hammer. The domestic violence incident is under investigation, Grafton police said.
She did not report the assault for a week out of fear of her husband, Trista Avey said. Her mother, Laura King of Grafton, helped persuade her to break the silence and drove her to the village Police Department about 3:15 p.m. Sunday, the criminal complaint says.
Charles Avey became suspicious when Trista did not respond to text messages soon after her departure. He drove by the police station, observed King's vehicle, then drove to the apartment in his Oldsmobile minivan and picked up Cody for a drive to Jackson and then Germantown.
The murder was premeditated, authorities said. Charles Avey called a friend while in Jackson, before driving to Germantown, and asked her to pick him up at the Wal-Mart parking lot.
As they talked on the steps of Allen Reetz's parents' home, neither of the boy's parents wished to comment Wednesday on the charges against Avey. "Nothing we say or do will bring Cody back," Allen Reetz said. "We have his memories."
Trista Avey said that rather than express the anger she feels, she prefers to focus on more positive things, such as the memory of Cody's 14th birthday party at her mother's home.
A photo shows Cody, both sides of his head shaved and the remaining top hair swept up into a pointed Mohawk-like style. He is wearing a black sweat shirt and a smile half as wide as his birthday cake.
"He had a big heart," she said.
"He is going to be missed by a lot of people," Allen Reetz said. "He was an outgoing kid."
The parents did not know how many lives Cody had touched until after his tragic slaying. Then the e-mails and phone messages started flowing their way, joined by messages on Cody's Facebook page.
Each caring expression helps his parents with their grief, they said.
And they wear a button over their heart with a photo of their smiling son to show the world, and Charles Avey, that Cody is still with them.
Mom's 'new man' kills another innocent! This stuff just burns me up! Get a grip, Women! Children FIRST, and when they're raised, THEN tend to your screwed up love life. Grrrrrr!
I remarried when my children were 7,5 and 3. My husband became the best dad in the world to them after their bio dad totally abandoned them.
26 years later, I am very thankful I gave my children a loving father - and now a loving devoted grandfather.
Just because this particular scum was scum, please don’t lump all step-fathers into the same mold.
LOL! I’m an Evil StepMother. I raised my husbamd’s son as well as his two nephews whose parents were major druggies, in and out of prison and rehab for the past 20 years. My husband didn’t even let me MEET his son until we had dated for 9 months; he wasn’t taking any chances with his Most Precious Cargo.
I’m not lumping anyone, anywhere, least of all myself. But if you pay ANY attention the news you will see a story a DAY where a child is killed at the hands of ‘Mom’s New Boyfriend/Husband.’
That’s what enrages me. These women are STUPID and they selfishly put their kids at risk just to have a warm body in their beds.
“Trista Avey said that rather than express the anger...”
So many things about this are beyond comprehension. First of all, this isn’t a random “tragedy” - it’s murder. This woman’s boyfriend (or husband?) killed her son. She should be beyond rage. But why on earth would she continue to live with a man who beat her in the first place? Did she have no survival instinct? I do not understand.
Thank God for men like him. But my kids at home are 15 and 18 and I won’t let them meet anyone I see. If I’m ever involved seriously with one, ok. But not until it’s very long term. You were just blessed. You must be quite a wonderful woman for a wonderful man like this to love you. I hope I’m that kind of woman too.
That hsa my endorsement!
Yes, there will be anecdotes as to exceptions, but that is just luck.
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