Aarone Thompson's father arrested for child abuse ending death (CONVICTED)

[burkieandemme]

Hello Monkeys.
The jury is still deleberating this case; this is day four.  Hopefully this is a good sign for Aarone and her siblings.   

[burkieandemme]

Bringing this forward.  Such a lovely tribute to Aarone.

[burkieandemme]

Still no verdict. 

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=123768&catid=339
Jurors continue to deliberate accused father's fate
posted by Dan Boniface     18 mins ago 
AURORA - Jurors in the Aaron Thompson case entered their second week of deliberations on Wednesday as they try to decide the fate of a father accused in the death of his daughter.



Closing arguments in the case wrapped up a week ago Tuesday, following six weeks of testimony. Thompson faces 57 counts, including child abuse resulting in death. There are still only theories about how Thompson's daughter, Aarone, died.

Legal Analyst Scott Robinson told 9NEWS last Friday that he's seen a jury take nine minutes and others take nine days to reach a verdict. He also pointed out jurors have a lot of evidence to weigh and it is good they are taking their time.

"They have the burden of proof and there is reasonable doubt throughout this case," defense attorney James Karbach told the jury during his closing arguments.

Prosecutor Robert Chappell told jurors Thompson is charged with child abuse, not homicide, and said Thompson is guilty even if he stood by as his girlfriend killed Aarone.
Chappell described a horrific home in which the children were routinely beaten with belts, television cords and a baseball bat. The children became used to abuse, the prosecutor said.

"They don't know you don't get beaten every day," Chappell said. He later urged the jury, "Do justice for these kids."

Chappell spent the better part his closing arguments methodically outlining the district attorney's case. There were, after all, nearly 60 criminal counts in all, many dealing with the child abuse allegations made by the other children living in the Thompson home.

However, it is clearly the death of Aarone that lies at the very center of the case.

Aaron Thompson reported his daughter missing in 2005. Police quickly believed, however, the girl had likely been dead for as many as two years.

Despite a massive investigation, detectives have not been able to locate the body of Aarone. In fact, the lengthy trial did little to come up with a definitive answer to the question: What exactly happened to Aarone?

Karbach said Thompson helped cover up the girl's death, but shouldn't be found guilty of causing it.

"There is no body. There is no cause of death," Karbach said.

Prosecutors clearly want the jury to believe this was a conspiracy on the part of Aaron Thompson from the very moment he notified police of the disappearance and, as alleged, told the other children to lie about her whereabouts.

The defense said Thompson's live-in girlfriend, Shely Lowe, was responsible for Aarone's death and there was not enough evidence to convict Thompson on the most serious charges. Lowe passed away in 2006.

Prosecutor Amy Richards said Thompson was part of a conspiracy with Lowe to conceal Aarone's death.


(Copyright KUSA*TV, All Rights Reserved)

[Sister]

Still praying for justice!

[burkieandemme]

Thompson jury to begin 8th day of deliberations
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/25/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Updated: 09/25/2009 02:09:03 AM MDT
CENTENNIAL — The jury in the Aaron Thompson case finished its seventh day of deliberations without a verdict Thursday.

Deliberations will resume this morning.

Thompson is on trial in the death of his daughter, Aarone, who would have been 6 years old when he reported her missing in November 2005. Prosecutors, however, said she died two years earlier.

Thompson has been charged with 57 criminal counts, including child abuse resulting in death and abuse of a corpse.

Many of the charges are related to the abuse of other children living in the Thompson home on East Kepner Place in Aurora.

Carlos Illescas, The Denver Post

http://**/search/ci_13415671

[Sister]

thank you for the update.  I feel like I am holding my breath.
I take this to mean they are being very deliberate and that is good.

[burkieandemme]

That is what I am hoping for as well Sister. 

We are only hearing a small bit of the abuse Aarone and Shelly performed on all of these children.  The jury saw the evidence.  I am sure it is very haunting. 

What I do not understand is if he was innocent of not killing Aarone, why wouldn't he plea down the charges to child abuse and abuse of Aarone's corpse?  I would think if he did not kill her, he would be donig everything (including devulging where Aarone's resting place is) to have the shotest jail sentance as possible. 

Then again,  I do not understand how someone can beat their children (let alone beat them with baseball bats, and electrical cords like these two monsters!).

[Sister]

That is what I am hoping for as well Sister. 

We are only hearing a small bit of the abuse Aarone and Shelly performed on all of these children.  The jury saw the evidence.  I am sure it is very haunting. 

What I do not understand is if he was innocent of not killing Aarone, why wouldn't he plea down the charges to child abuse and abuse of Aarone's corpse?  I would think if he did not kill her, he would be donig everything (including devulging where Aarone's resting place is) to have the shotest jail sentance as possible. 

Then again,  I do not understand how someone can beat their children (let alone beat them with baseball bats, and electrical cords like these two monsters!).

burkie, he is a monster anyway you cut it!  I pray he gets sent away forever!

[burkieandemme]

http://**/search/ci_13423584
Eight days and still no verdict in Thompson trial
By Carlos Illescas
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/26/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Updated: 09/26/2009 02:54:07 AM MDT


CENTENNIAL — Jurors in the Aaron Thompson trial have likely reached consensus on whether seven other children in the Thompson home were abused by him, but they may be struggling on whether he is responsible for his daughter Aaroné's death, a local attorney said.

On Friday, the jury skipped lunch, leading observers to think that a verdict was near. But jurors wound up their eighth day of deliberation just after 4:30 p.m., without reaching a verdict. And that can't be good news for prosecutors who argued Thompson should be convicted in the death of his daughter, Aaroné, local attorney Dan Recht said.

The jury will return to deliberate Monday morning.

During the six-week trial in Arapahoe County District Court, prosecutors did not present any evidence directly linking Thompson to the death of Aaroné. She would have been 6 years old when her father reported her missing in November 2005. Authorities believe she died two years earlier. Her body has not been found.

Thompson's girlfriend, Shelley Lowe, who also was a suspect, died in 2006.

"The further we get, the less likely it will be he gets convicted for Aaroné's death," said Recht, who is not associated with the case. "Eight days is really long for any trial. On the other hand, they have a lot of charges to go over."

Thompson faces 57 criminal charges, including child abuse resulting in death. Three of the charges are specifically about Aaroné's death; the rest relate to alleged abuse of the other children, the coverup and disposing of her body.

During the trial, jurors heard dramatic testimony from all the children — whether it was taped or in person or both — that Thompson and Lowe beat them repeatedly with a belt, extension cords and a bat.

They were also shown pictures of bruises and marks left by the punishments. So the jury may have decided on those charges by now.

"We knew for a fact going in, that without a body, any child-abuse-resulting-in-death charge was going to be a long shot," legal analyst Scott Robinson said. "But what we have in this case is conflicting secondhand accounts as to how the little girl met her end. I'm sure that's a factor in the lengthy deliberations."

In other cases when a jury has deliberated this long, the group typically has by now sent a note out to the judge indicating that they are deadlocked.

If they were to communicate that they were at an impasse, District Court Judge Valeria Spencer would call the jurors into the courtroom and urge them to continue deliberating.

But that hasn't happened yet. The jury has submitted a few questions, mostly about procedural issues.

If there is a hung jury on the charges relating to Aaroné, the prosecution could retry Thompson on those, Recht said.

Even if the prosecution does not get a conviction on the charges related to Aaroné's death, Thompson would still go to jail likely for the rest of his life on the child-abuse charges, Recht said.

"From an emotional perspective, they would like to see him go down for child abuse resulting in death," Recht said of the prosecution. "But they would be sufficiently happy with multiple convictions of child abuse."

Robinson cautioned that observers not read too much into the long deliberations.

"You want a jury to take its time," he said. "This is a very serious case."

Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com

[Sister]

http://**/search/ci_13423584
Eight days and still no verdict in Thompson trial
By Carlos Illescas
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/26/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Updated: 09/26/2009 02:54:07 AM MDT


CENTENNIAL — Jurors in the Aaron Thompson trial have likely reached consensus on whether seven other children in the Thompson home were abused by him, but they may be struggling on whether he is responsible for his daughter Aaroné's death, a local attorney said.

On Friday, the jury skipped lunch, leading observers to think that a verdict was near. But jurors wound up their eighth day of deliberation just after 4:30 p.m., without reaching a verdict. And that can't be good news for prosecutors who argued Thompson should be convicted in the death of his daughter, Aaroné, local attorney Dan Recht said.

The jury will return to deliberate Monday morning.

During the six-week trial in Arapahoe County District Court, prosecutors did not present any evidence directly linking Thompson to the death of Aaroné. She would have been 6 years old when her father reported her missing in November 2005. Authorities believe she died two years earlier. Her body has not been found.

Thompson's girlfriend, Shelley Lowe, who also was a suspect, died in 2006.

"The further we get, the less likely it will be he gets convicted for Aaroné's death," said Recht, who is not associated with the case. "Eight days is really long for any trial. On the other hand, they have a lot of charges to go over."

Thompson faces 57 criminal charges, including child abuse resulting in death. Three of the charges are specifically about Aaroné's death; the rest relate to alleged abuse of the other children, the coverup and disposing of her body.

During the trial, jurors heard dramatic testimony from all the children — whether it was taped or in person or both — that Thompson and Lowe beat them repeatedly with a belt, extension cords and a bat.

They were also shown pictures of bruises and marks left by the punishments. So the jury may have decided on those charges by now.

"We knew for a fact going in, that without a body, any child-abuse-resulting-in-death charge was going to be a long shot," legal analyst Scott Robinson said. "But what we have in this case is conflicting secondhand accounts as to how the little girl met her end. I'm sure that's a factor in the lengthy deliberations."

In other cases when a jury has deliberated this long, the group typically has by now sent a note out to the judge indicating that they are deadlocked.

If they were to communicate that they were at an impasse, District Court Judge Valeria Spencer would call the jurors into the courtroom and urge them to continue deliberating.

But that hasn't happened yet. The jury has submitted a few questions, mostly about procedural issues.

If there is a hung jury on the charges relating to Aaroné, the prosecution could retry Thompson on those, Recht said.

Even if the prosecution does not get a conviction on the charges related to Aaroné's death, Thompson would still go to jail likely for the rest of his life on the child-abuse charges, Recht said.

"From an emotional perspective, they would like to see him go down for child abuse resulting in death," Recht said of the prosecution. "But they would be sufficiently happy with multiple convictions of child abuse."

Robinson cautioned that observers not read too much into the long deliberations.

"You want a jury to take its time," he said. "This is a very serious case."

Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com

Burkie, thanks again for the update.  I do want them to take their time. 57 charges is a lot, though how "life" behind bars does it take to keep him permanently off the streets.  Maybe Monday we will know.

[burkieandemme]

Saying a prayer that the jury will come back with a verdict on Monday as well Sister.

[burkieandemme]

Thompson jury reaches consensus on nearly all counts
posted by: Sara Gandy written by: Chris Vanderveen     46 mins ago  Toolbox: Read Comments Print ArticleEmail ArticleSmallerLarger
CENTENNIAL - Nine days into its deliberations, it appears the jury in the Aaron Thompson trial is close to reaching a final verdict.

On Monday, shortly before the lunch hour, Judge Valeria Spencer informed the courtroom that jurors had reached consensus on 51 of the 57 charges. It appears as if the jury is stuck on six counts. It is unknown which charges remain undecided, but earlier in the day jurors asked Spencer a question in relation to an abuse of a corpse charge.

Spencer told the jury to continue deliberating on the unresolved counts. It is unclear how long the jury would want to deliberate, or if the issue will eventually lead to a hung jury on those particular charges.

<snipped>
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=124092&catid=339

[Sister]

Thompson jury reaches consensus on nearly all counts
posted by: Sara Gandy written by: Chris Vanderveen     46 mins ago  Toolbox: Read Comments Print ArticleEmail ArticleSmallerLarger
CENTENNIAL - Nine days into its deliberations, it appears the jury in the Aaron Thompson trial is close to reaching a final verdict.

On Monday, shortly before the lunch hour, Judge Valeria Spencer informed the courtroom that jurors had reached consensus on 51 of the 57 charges. It appears as if the jury is stuck on six counts. It is unknown which charges remain undecided, but earlier in the day jurors asked Spencer a question in relation to an abuse of a corpse charge.

Spencer told the jury to continue deliberating on the unresolved counts. It is unclear how long the jury would want to deliberate, or if the issue will eventually lead to a hung jury on those particular charges.

<snipped>
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=124092&catid=339

burkie, when I read this I began to be very hopeful!  They are taking their time.  That is great!

[burkieandemme]

http://**/ci_13438175

Thompson jury hung on abuse of corpse charges
By Carlos Illescas
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/28/2009 12:23:49 PM MDT
Updated: 09/28/2009 02:47:23 PM MDT

CENTENNIAL — A judge has declared a mistrial in two of 55 counts in the trial of Aaron Thompson, who was charged in the death of his daughter, Aaroné.

The jury reached consensus in the remaining charges and will return to deliver its verdict at 3:30 p.m.

At 2:25 p.m., Judge Valeria Spencer ruled a mistrial on two of the most vexing charges in the case, abuse of a corpse and conspiracy to commit abuse of a corpse. Those charges relate to Aaroné, who would have been 6 years old when her father reported her missing in 2005, although investigators believe she may have died two years earlier. Her body has not been found.

Spencer also set a sentencing hearing for Nov. 10.

Earlier in the day,

Aarone Thompson was reported missing in '05, but police have said she might have been dead for two years. Her father is on trial. the jury also was wrestling with two abuse charges involving related to the "whupping" of one Shelley Lowe's sons, who gave some of the most emotional and conflicting testimony during the trial.

Thompson also is accused of abusing seven other children who lived with him and his girlfriend, Lowe, in a home on East Kepner Place in Aurora.

Lowe died in 2006.

Thompson originally faced 60 charges, but some have been dropped.

The jury began deliberations Sept. 16.

During nearly six weeks of testimony, some of the children of Thompson and Lowe testified that they were routinely beaten by the two with belts, extension cords and even a bat.

Thompson reported his daughter missing in November 2005, saying she ran away because he would not give her more cookies.

A massive police search ensued, but authorities quickly focused on Thompson and Lowe as possible suspects in Aaroné's death. After three days, human services took custody of the children.

Aaroné's body has not been found, and no one knows the exact cause of her death.

But a former boyfriend of Lowe testified that she told him Aaroné stopped breathing in the bathtub and that Lowe and Thompson buried her in a field.

One of the children of Lowe testified that the last time she saw Aaroné was after Thompson had beaten the little girl in the bathroom.

Defense attorneys acknowledged that Thompson lied to police in the cover-up and tried to pin the girl's death on Lowe.

Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175

or cillescas@denverpost.com

[burkieandemme]

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=124095&catid=339

Father found guilty in daughter's death       
posted by: Sara Gandy written by: Chris Vanderveen     6 mins ago  Toolbox: Read Comments Print ArticleEmail ArticleSmallerLarger
UPDATES ON 9NEWS @ 4, 5 & 6 P.M.
CENTENNIAL - An Arapahoe County jury has found Aaron Thompson guilty of the most serious charge he faced in the death of his daughter, Aarone, following a marathon round of deliberations.

Thompson was found guilty of child abuse resulting in the death of his daughter.

Word of the verdict came at 2:30 p.m. The jury started deliberating on Sept. 16. Arapahoe County Judge Valeria Spencer read the guilty verdict an hour later.

Prosecutors have charged Thompson with nearly 60 criminal counts including one count of child abuse resulting in the death of his daughter, Aarone. Thompson reported Aarone missing in Nov. of 2005, but Aurora police quickly suspected the little girl had likely been dead for upwards of two years. Aarone would have been six at the time of the reported disappearance.

The jury reached its verdict on all counts except for counts eight and nine. Those counts were abuse of a corpse and conspiracy to commit abuse of a corpse, and the judge declared a mistrial on those counts.

During the six weeks of testimony, Arapahoe County prosecutors tried to portray Thompson as a controlling father who repeatedly beat the children living inside his home. A total of eight children lived inside Thompson's home in Aurora. Many of them testified during the course of the trial that "Big A" routinely beat the children with things such as a baseball bat and a belt. During her closing arguments, prosecutor Amy Richards called the Thompson home a "torture chamber."

Thompson never took the stand in his own defense during the trial. His attorneys tried to place much of the blame on Shely Lowe, Thompson's live-in girlfriend at the time. Lowe was clearly a target of the police investigation from the very beginning, but she passed away in 2006.

Thompson's defense also tried to point out the fact that the case itself was not entirely clear cut. Despite a massive investigation, police were never able to locate the body of Aarone. While prosecutors have a theory as to how she might have died, they were unable to present anything definitive during the course of the trial. Some of the children who testified gave conflicting stories as well.
 

[burkieandemme]

Justice for Aarone!  Justice for the other children who lived in that house! 

Yeah SISTER and all the monkeys who read here, we have Justice!!!!

[Nut44x4]

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!  

[Sister]

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Burkie and Nutt,
When I saw that a new post was on this thread, I said a prayer before I opened it.  Thank God for the deliberate way this jury handled this case.  What a burden it must have been for them, day after day.  I am delighted and I have to admit, my faith in our judicial system, which is sometimes very low, move up several notches today.
Thanks for posting these articles.
Precious Little Girl, justice has prevailed!!!
 

[Nut44x4]

 

[burkieandemme]

http://**/ci_13441314
Thompson convicted of 31 counts in death of daughter Aaroné
By Carlos Illescas
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/29/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT
Updated: 09/29/2009 06:13:38 AM MDT

<snipped>
A summary of the verdict
There were 55 charges remaining when Aaron Thompson went to trial.

GUILTY

31 charges, ranging from child abuse resulting in the death of his daughter Aarone, left, and several counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor related to coaching the seven other children in the home about what to say to investigators.

NOT GUILTY

22 charges, mostly related to the physical abuse of older children living in Thompson's home.

MISTRIAL

Two charges on abuse of a corpse and conspiracy to commit abuse of a corpse, related to the disposal of Aarone's body.