GALVESTON — A jury Friday found Royce Clyde Zeigler II guilty of capital murder in the death of 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers, the toddler who became known to the world as Baby Grace.
The jury of nine men and three women deliberated four hours and 45 minutes before reaching the unanimous verdict.
Barring a successful automatic appeal, Zeigler, 26, will spend the rest of his life in prison, which was the same punishment a jury handed Feb. 2 to his wife and co-defendant, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 21.
The jury began at 11:15 a.m. Friday deliberating Zeigler’s fate, and the verdict in Judge David Garner’s 10th District Court was celebrated with hugs between members of the sheriff’s office and Sheryl Sawyers, Riley Ann’s paternal grandmother.
“I wish it never had to happen, but I’m glad it’s over now and I can move on,” said Sawyers, who first alerted authorities to the possibility her granddaughter was Baby Grace.
Lack Of Evidence?
In closing arguments, defense attorneys said no evidence connected Zeigler to the toddler’s death. His attorneys asked the jury to acquit him of capital murder.
Prosecutors, however, asked the jurors to use “common sense” when considering all the facts and to convict Zeigler of capital murder in the July 25, 2007, death.
Zeigler and Trenor disposed of as much evidence as possible to distance themselves from Sawyers’ murder, Galveston County Criminal District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk said.
Sawyers died of three skull fractures, testimony revealed.
Sistrunk said the injuries occurred during a daylong disciplinary session that went bad.
List Of Lies
In closing arguments, Sistrunk gave the jury a list of lies told by Zeigler to friends, family and co-workers, which the jury heard during eight days of testimony.
Nellie Zeigler, Royce Zeigler’s mother, last saw Riley on July 23, 2007, and when she asked about the toddler, the couple first told relatives that Sawyers was with a friend.
They then presented a fake Ohio child protective services letter saying the agency took the child.
“The worst of all was that grandmother Sheryl Sawyers paid somebody to come kidnap her,” Sistrunk said.
When authorities investigated the case, they didn’t know where it would take them, Sistrunk said.
“We got for Riley a sense of justice,” Sistrunk said. “Now two people have been convicted and will spend a life sentence in the Texas criminal justice system. We were all touched by the terrible crime that hit us all. This was good for Riley, and we all loved her.”
Zeigler admitted to authorities he stored the child’s body in a box in his carport for weeks and then dumped her body in Galveston Bay.
A fisherman found her decomposed body Oct. 29, 2007, and sheriff’s investigators called the girl Baby Grace until learning her identity 26 days later.
“They’re asking you to put this kid in jail for the rest of his life,” Dena Fisher, one of Zeigler’s defense attorneys, said in closing remarks to the jury.
“They’ve got evidence of tampering with evidence but don’t have the smoking gun.”
The killer had already been tried and convicted of capital murder and was sitting in prison, said Dee McWilliams, another of Zeigler’s attorneys, in reference to Trenor.
‘I Had My Beliefs’
McWilliams showed the jury a transcript of his questioning of FBI Special Agent Don C. Gay, who was present during a videotaped interview with Zeigler.
“I had my beliefs,” Gay told McWilliams of whether he knew if Zeigler killed Sawyers.
McWilliams then asked Gay if he had evidence that linked Zeigler to the crime.
“At that point, no,” Gay answered.
Sistrunk said the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming. After Garner read the verdict, Nellie Zeigler sat stunned in the courtroom, telling relatives she only wanted one more chance to embrace her son.
Sgt. Mike Barry, lead investigator on the case, said he felt sorry for the pain Royce Zeigler’s family had to endure.
“My heart goes out to the Zeigler family,” Barry said.
“Mr. and Mrs. Zeigler and Hiram (Zeigler’s brother) were in a tough situation. I feel bad for them. They didn’t do anything. Their son Royce did.”
12 Pounds Of ‘Rotting Flesh’
Sistrunk blamed the lack of evidence on Zeigler and Trenor, who after Sawyers’ death in their Spring home drove to Walmart to purchase cleaning supplies, a shovel, gloves, plastic bags and a box.
“This defendant and his wife left us a bucket and rotting flesh,” Sistrunk said. “Twelve pounds of it.”
“It’s what murderers do,” Sistrunk said of disposing evidence. “It’s what killers do.”
+++
Online Video
Go to the On Patrol blog to watch video of Baby Grace's grandmother's response to the guilty verdict plus more reaction from the county's criminal justice center.
