Father Tries to Cover Up Drowning

A father, desperate to cover up an accidental drowning death, was found to have slain his other child as well in Detroit.

Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Ver Massey Jones saw right through the lies told by 27-year-old Steven Nicholson about the death of his two children. As a result, he was found guilty of first degree premeditated murder and first degree child abuse for the death of 15-month-old Ella Stafford, and second degree murder in the case of 13-month-old Johnathon Sanderlin.

Although nobody can be sure, it is believed that Nicholson held the young boy's face underwater in the bathtub to keep him from crying. His initial story, however, was that the two children turned on the water by themselves, climbed into the tub in his apartment, while he was sleeping. He claimed to have found their bodies in the middle of the night when he called 911 for assistance.

When the bodies were brought before two medical examiners, a different story was revealed. Both medical professionals stated that the bodies were scalded after being drowned, making it highly impossible that the children turned on the water themselves before entering the bathtub.

If you or someone you care for was harmed by negligence, contact our law office to work with a San Diego personal injury attorney.