A heartless grandmother who killed her two-year-old grandson posed a disturbing question to police officers as they closed in on her deceitful actions. Kerry Ives and her husband, Michael Ives, have recently been sentenced following their conviction for the ‘brutal’ murder of toddler Ethan Ives-Griffiths in August 2021.
Michael Ives received a minimum 23-year prison term for Ethan’s murder, along with nine years for child cruelty to be served concurrently. Kerry Ives was given a minimum 17-year sentence for Ethan’s murder, and an additional six years for child cruelty, also to run concurrently.
The judge announced a 12-year sentence for Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, for her role in allowing her son’s death, with a five-year term for child cruelty to be served concurrently. Shannon Ives is expected to serve two-thirds of her 12-year sentence before being released on licence.
The couple attempted to appear as concerned grandparents after inflicting harm on young Ethan. They falsely claimed in a distressing emergency call that the motionless child had simply ‘fallen over’ while watching TV at their residence in Flintshire, North Wales.
However, the truth about Ethan’s tragic final hours emerged, leading to Kerry Ives’ arrest on September 2, 2021. Ethan succumbed to a fatal head injury resulting from intentional force, possibly including forceful shaking, with additional abdominal injuries indicative of forceful impacts.
Recently released police bodycam footage captured the moment when Kerry Ives was confronted with her arrest for murder at her doorstep. She appeared disoriented as officers informed her of the arrest, to which she replied with a chilling, “Who?” before requesting to get dressed as she was taken into custody.
During the trial, it was revealed that the couple tried to shift blame for Ethan’s death onto their daughter, Shannon Ives, who was also found guilty of contributing to the child’s demise and showing cruelty towards Ethan.
Witnesses testified that on the night of Ethan’s fatal injury, he was downstairs with his grandparents while his mother was upstairs. Ethan collapsed while watching TV that night, leading to his emergency hospitalization and subsequent tragic passing due to severe head injuries and signs of physical abuse.
The court learned that Ethan was severely underweight and covered in bruises at the time of his death, with post-mortem examination revealing numerous external injuries. CCTV footage outside the family home depicted the mistreatment Ethan endured, showing his mother’s indifference to his suffering and his father’s cruel handling of the child.
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