Hamilton County law enforcement officials have arrested Kaitlin Evans (38), Nessa Keaney (23), and Kirby Rankin (33) in connection with the alleged premeditated torture and murder of a 7-year-old boy, William Evans-Ellis.
Prosecuting Attorney Connie Pillich revealed that text message evidence from the Signal encryption app documented the group’s planned plot to kidnap and kill the child.
William Evans-Ellis was discovered dead bound with duct tape in a closet at his mother’s apartment in Oakley, Ohio. The body had been deceased for approximately one day prior to discovery. Police noted that the suspects took their dog to a veterinarian the day before William’s death, raising suspicion the boy was already deceased when they left.
A coroner’s report confirmed the child died from blunt force trauma to the head and sustained extensive injuries indicating prolonged and severe abuse, including broken bones, numerous bruises, possible burn marks, and signs of water torture.
Pillich stated: “They failed miserably as parents. Instead, they committed atrocious acts, causing this child to suffer terribly.” She emphasized that William was only 7 years old and “deserved to be protected from harm” but instead endured “horrific abuse and ultimately lost his life.”
The three suspects are currently held on $1.1 million bonds each. Their attorneys have formally requested competency evaluations. Two of the suspects, Nessa Keaney and Kirby Rankin, are biological males but appear to identify as women.
