Complaint Review: Brian Matthew Crabtree - Lexington Kentucky

HE HAD A MYSPACE.COM PAGE BUT DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE CRIME HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH, HIS PROFILE HAS BEEN REMOVED.

I WISH I COULD POST HIS MUG SHOT PHOTO HERE SO YOU COULD SEE THE EXPRESSION IN HIS EYES

WHAT KIND OF PARENT WOULD LEAVE A LITTLE GIRL ALONE WITH AN UNMARRIED YOUNG MAN WHO WAS NOT A RELATIVE?

WHY DIDN'T THE MOTHER HAVE CUSTODY OF HER DAUGHTER?

WHY DIDN'T THE GRANDMOTHERS OR AUNTS HELP?

Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:32 pm

Crabtree case sent to grand jury

December 13, 2008

The 18-year-old man accused of raping and murdering a 2-year-old girl told police that he dropped the child from a height about level with his shoulders before sexually assaulting her, according to testimony Friday in a court hearing.

A Fayette County grand jury will consider the case of Brian Crabtree.

Katelynn Stinnett's mother and some other relatives listened as a police detective recounted his interview with Crabtree.

Lexington Police Sgt. Jesse Harris testified that Crabtree gave him a taped confession several hours after the alleged crimes occurred.

According to Harris, Crabtree said he gave Katelynn a bath on the afternoon of Nov. 25, 2008 at a Lexington apartment off Versailles Road. He then dropped her from a height of about his shoulders to the floor before raping her.

Katelynn's mother, Angela Johns, cried quietly in the courtroom, and an aunt was heard gasping, "Oh my God."

The child died of her injuries Dec. 3.

Crabtree's public defender, Sam Cox, asked Harris if he knew that Crabtree has an IQ of just 68 or that Crabtree couldn't read or write.

Harris said Crabtree said he had graduated from high school, and Harris didn't question Crabtree further about his education.

Harris also said that Katelynn's older brother, 3, was in the apartment at the time that Crabtree said he attacked Katelynn. The boy told investigators, according to Harris, "Brian hit sissy. Brian hit sissy."

Crabtree was watching the children as their father and his roommate, Daniel Stinnett, worked. Stinnett returned home from work at a fire and disaster recovery company and found his daughter in a deep sleep, according to the children's mother, who wasn't living with them. Because it was around the child's nap time, Stinnett didn't think much about it and took her to a friend's house.

When Katelynn wouldn't wake up, he called his mother, and they went together to the hospital.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Brian Matthew Crabtree - Arrested And Charged With The Brutal Assault And Rape Of A Two Year Old Girl

Unfortunately we have some sad news to report. The child in the case below has now died as a result of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Brian Crabtree who admitted to sexually abusing the toddler and then dropping her on her head, knocking the girl unconscious. There is some confusion as to whether the child passed on Tuesday or Wednesday, however the death has been confirmed. We expect the charges - as listed below - will be re-evaluated by prosecutors soon and likely upgraded to manslaughter or murder.

Previous Report

Lexington, Kentucky-- Brian Matthew Crabtree, an 18-year-old Kentucky man has been charged with rape and assault on a two-year-old girl.

According to police, Crabtree has been charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree assault after he allegedly admitting to police that he attacked and raped a two-year-old toddler. Police say Crabtree also admitted to dropping the child several feet to the floor.

According to police, officers were called to an apartment complex off Cummins Court in Lexington where they found an unresponsive child who belonged to Crabtree's roommate.

Police haven't released many details about what exactly took place, but said the attack likely occurred sometime between late Tuesday, early Wednesday morning. Authorities described the toddler's injuries as severe, including head trauma and multiple injuries to other parts of her body.

The child was originally taken to St. Joseph East Hospital, but was then transferred to University of Kentucky hospital. As of Thursday, news of the little girl's condition has not been released.

Crabtree was booked into the Fayette County Detention Center. He appeared in court Wednesday afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges - despite his early admission of guilt, according to court documents.

Man Charged With Raping 2-Year-Old

November 26, 2008

An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged with the rape and assault of a three-year-old girl in Lexington,Kentucky.

Brian Matthew Crabtree is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree assault in the incident, which police say happened sometime overnight at a home on in the Cummins Court area off of Versailles Road. Court documents say that Crabtree admitted that he raped the girl as well as dropping her several feet to the floor.

The child was originally taken to St. Joseph East Hospital, but has since been transferred to UK Hospital. There is no word on her condition.

Crabtree is being held in the Fayette County Detention Center. He is expected to make a court appearance in the case Wednesday afternoon.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:10 pm

Toddler who was raped, beaten dies

Lexington Herald-Leader

December 4, 2008

A 2-year-old girl police say was raped and assaulted last week died Wednesday at the Kentucky Children's Hospital.

Brian Matthew Crabtree is being held in the Fayette County Detention Center on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree assault. He has pleaded not guilty.

The Fayette County coroner's report said the child, Katelynn Stinnett, was assaulted on Nov. 25 in a home at 2034 Cumins Court off Versailles Road. An autopsy is pending, and the death is being investigated as a homicide. According to court documents, police said Crabtree, roommate to the girl's father, raped the child and dropped her to the floor.

The Ellison Funeral Home in Williamsburg is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Posts: 2350

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:12 pm

Two Year Old Victim's Family Speaks Out

December 4, 2008

The devastated family of Katelyn Stinnett is hopeful some good will come from tragic situation.

A man accused of raping a two year old girl won't appear in court until tomorrow, to find out if he faces murder charges in her death. Her family members are speaking out today. Brian Crabtree is accused of attacking Katelyn Stinnett.

Luvenia Day is Katelyn Stinnett's Great Aunt, she says she was with the two year old in the hospital every day since November 26th when she was admitted with life threatening injuries. Injuries police say were caused by Brian Crabtree.

Day will remember the little girl, who passed away on Wednesday December 3rd, as a bright, happy girl full of potential. Saying it's still hard for her to believe that same little girl with a big smile is gone.

Day says Stinnett is an organ donor and she's happy to know the little girl will be able to live on by giving life to others.

The family of Katelyn Stinnett is still working out the details of her funeral...and has set up a fund in her honor with the proceeds going to help abused and neglected children.

If you'd like to donate, you can do so at any Community Trust Bank. An account has been put in place by the River of Life Church of God on her behalf. A pastor in charge of the funeral tells 27 NEWSFIRST The two year old's funeral has all been donated... there will be no expense to the family at all.

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:16 pm

Toddler's death leaves neighbors, family reeling

December 5, 2008

At a small mobile home park tucked off Bryan Station Road in southern Bourbon County, many people knew 2-year-old Katelynn Stinnett.

They also know the teen accused of killing her.

According to police, Brian Crabtree, 18, raped and threw the girl on the floor of a Lexington apartment on Nov. 25. The toddler died from her injuries on Wednesday.

Crabtree was watching Katelynn and a 3-year-old brother while their father was at work, said Chris Baker, the uncle of Katelynn's father, Daniel Stinnett.

Crabtree was "a quiet, well-mannered kid, but he showed what he was," Baker said.

Crabtree is scheduled to appear Friday morning in Fayette District Court. He is already charged with assault, rape and sexual abuse, and has pleaded not guilty to those charges. The Fayette County Attorney's Office plans to upgrade the assault charge to intentional murder.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled, but Crabtree could choose to waive the hearing and have the case sent to a grand jury. He is being held at the Fayette County jail and declined a request for an interview.

Miles away in Bourbon County at the Turfland mobile home park where he lived until recently, a brother declined to give his name, but said Brian Crabtree is innocent.

An arrest citation for Crabtree indicates he gave a recorded confession to police.

Crabtree grew up in a mobile home near a dead end and attended Bourbon County High School.

In recent weeks, Crabtree moved to a trailer on an adjacent street where he was staying with Daniel Stinnett, who was caring for Katelynn and a young son. Stinnett's wife has not been near the family for several months, neighbors said.

Baker said Stinnett is reeling from his daughter's death. "He's a basket case right now," Baker said.

Stinnett had lived for a time in the mobile home park years before with relatives, and the two men knew each other, neighbor Tim White said.

"Everybody kind of knows everybody," he said.

For the few weeks he lived with Stinnett, Crabtree cared for the children while Stinnett was at work, Baker said.

White said that a relative of Daniel Stinnett's had recently asked Crabtree about some bruises on Katelynn. He said Crabtree responded, "No, I'd never do nothing like that. I love that baby."

The week before Thanksgiving, Stinnett told neighbors that he was moving to a Lexington apartment that he described as bigger and a better environment than the beige and brown trailer.

Baker said he's not sure why his nephew and Stinnett moved out of the trailer after living there such a short time.

The two men and two children lived at the Bradford Apartments, off Versailles Road, just four days before Katelynn was injured, a woman in the management office said.

The 3-year-old boy is now in foster care, Baker said.

Vikki Franklin, a spokeswoman for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, declined to say whether the cabinet had investigated any complaints involving Katelynn Stinnett or anyone in her family.

White said that, if Crabtree is guilty of the charges against him, "I hope he never sees the light of day."

Funeral arrangements for Katelynn Stinnett are pending.

Joined: 14 Aug 2006

Posts: 2350

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:22 pm

Mother of slain girl speaks

Baby Sitter Charged With Murder

December 6, 2008

The mother of a 2-year-old who was raped and killed doesn't think she will ever understand the man accused of the crime.

"I don't think you can ever get into a sick person's head like that. I've been trying to figure it out," said Angela Johns. "I'd like to look at him and ask him why, but I know I wouldn't get the answers I need."

Her daughter, Katelynn Stinnett, died earlier this week of injuries allegedly caused the week before by Brian Crabtree, 18. Police say Crabtree raped and dropped the toddler from a height of several feet inside a Lexington apartment they had just moved into with Katelynn's father, Daniel Stinnett.

In an interview on Friday, Johns, 24, described Stinnett, 25, as a good father trying his best and said Crabtree never gave her a reason not to trust him with her young son and daughter.

On Friday morning, Fayette County prosecutors charged Crabtree with murder. At an earlier arraignment, Crabtree entered a plea of not guilty to assault and rape charges. He is being held on a $250,000 bond in the Fayette County jail.

Six years ago, Johns met Stinnett at the Thornton's gas station on Winchester Road. They quickly became a couple and married, living in London before moving back closer to family after Stinnett lost his job there earlier this year.

They lived in the Turfland mobile home park in southern Bourbon County, also where Crabtree and his family lived. In June, Johns and Stinnett separated.

"Daniel just wasn't ready to settle down," Johns said. "We're best friends. We just couldn't be together as a couple."

After Johns moved out, Crabtree moved in and took on part of the three-bedroom mobile home's rent.

Soon after, a car wreck and other financial setbacks made it hard for Johns to care for the kids. Stinnett said he would take the children, and Johns took them every other weekend. Crabtree watched the kids when Stinnett worked.

Johns said she had no problem with Crabtree watching them. He was 18, "but it seemed like he was 25," Johns said.

She described Brian Crabtree as a nice but shy and somewhat distant guy.

"He was a real 'yes, ma'am,' 'no sir' well-mannered guy," she said.

He never seemed to be a threat, and Johns bristles at the idea that she or Stinnett are at fault for letting Crabtree watch their children.

"We didn't let this happen to our daughter. We trusted this guy for a long time. He did this to her," she said.

Johns said she last had her kids on Nov. 14, 15 and 16,2008. They seemed fine to her, but she said her 3-year-old son said a few weeks ago he did not like Crabtree any more.

The boy is currently in foster care, she said.

A short time after her last visit with the kids, Stinnett, Crabtree, Katelynn and her brother moved into Bradford Apartments off Versailles Road in Lexington. Days later, on Nov. 25, 2008 Stinnett returned home from work at a fire and disaster recovery company and found his daughter in a deep sleep, Johns said. Since it was around her nap time, he didn't think much about it and took her to a friend's house.

When Katelynn wouldn't wake up, he called his mother, and they went together to the hospital.

"That's when they found out she was raped," Johns said.

At the hospital, Johns said her daughter looked as if she had been beaten all day. She was told that her daughter was "half brain-dead."

"It was horrible. That wasn't my daughter laying in the bed," she said. "It wasn't Katie."

She recalled her daughter as a smart, but goofy child who would sing the Spongebob Squarepants theme song and enjoyed chicken nuggets.

"Katelynn never had a frown on her face. She was an angel," Johns said.

Stinnett and Johns agreed to donate their daughter's organs. "The only thing wrong with her was her brain. Her heart deserved to live in another kid. Whoever got that heart, whew."

Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008

Funeral services for toddler Sunday

Baby Sitter Allegedly Killed 2-year-old

Karla Ward

Lexington Herald-Leader

December 7, 2008

Jesse Acosta, pastor of River of Life Church of God, said the funeral he will preach Sunday afternoon will be the most difficult he has experienced in 25 years of preaching.

Words do not come easily in contemplating the death of 2-year-old Katelynn Stinnett, who died Wednesday after being raped and beaten, allegedly by her baby sitter.

"How I'm going to get through it ... I don't know," Acosta said. "Just with the help of the Lord."

Katelynn's father, Daniel Stinnett, had one request Saturday night at the visitation where friends and family gathered around the small white casket where his daughter lay in a satiny white dress.

"Pray for Katelynn and pray for our family," he said. "She was a great girl, always happy. We just never thought anything like this would ever happen."

Prosecutors have charged Stinnett's roommate, Brian Crabtree, 18, who cared for Katelynn and her 3-year-old brother while Stinnett worked, with murder. Crabtree pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, rape and sexual abuse at an arraignment held before the charges were upgraded.

Police say that on Nov. 25, he raped Katelynn and dropped her from a height of several feet at the Bradford Apartments off Versailles Road, where he, Stinnett, Katelynn and her brother had lived briefly since moving from Bourbon County.

The children's mother, Angela Johns, said in an interview Friday that her husband had come home from work and found the girl in a deep sleep. When she wouldn't wake up after he took her to a friend's house, Johnson said Stinnett called his mother and they took her to the hospital.

Johns said Katelynn's brother is now in foster care.

Stinnett said he thinks officials have handled the investigation surrounding the child's death "very well," but "there will never be justice enough Katelynn."

During the funeral, Acosta said, he might turn to words of Jesus in the book of Luke that could be of comfort to those searching for answers: "And shall God not avenge his own elect who cry out day and night to him, though he bears long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?"

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. at River of Life Church of God, 757 Wilderness Road in Lexington, KY. Burial will follow at the Clintonville cemetery in Bourbon County. Ellison Funeral Home in Williamsburg is in charge of arrangments.

Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:29 pm

Katelynn's mom speaks out following the alleged murderer of her little angel'

December 8, 2008

Like only a mother's hands could, Angela Johns smooths out a white, tulle dress over a tiny coffin.

She fingers the pink ribbons that dangle from it until they are laid just right. Clutching a black scarf and pulling her hands to her face, she steps back, shuts her eyes, then looks again at the small dress.

Johns stares at two coffins before her in the Ellison Funeral Home Chapel, where she must choose the one that will hold her daughter, 2-year-old Katelynn Elizabeth Stinnett, who died Dec. 3 after being raped and abused by a man who was supposed to be baby-sitting.

Ultimately, she chose the one adorned with cherubs in each corner.

She was my little angel, she said.

Johns, 24, has three boys, the youngest of which was also living with his and Katelynn's father, Daniel Stinnett, and was home at the time of Katelynn's attack.

According to police, on Nov. 25, 18-year-old Brian Crabtree raped and threw the girl on the floor of the Lexington apartment he shared with the child's father.

He was Daniel's roommate, Johns said. Daniel had known the guy for a while. They lived in the same trailer park for years. Whenever I met the guy, he was a very nice, sweet guy. I mean, a well-mannered country boy very country boy but he was a nice guy.

Johns said Crabtree helped out with the kids after Daniel Stinnett could no longer afford to keep them in daycare. The two men and the children had recently moved into the Bradford Apartments off Versailles Road in Lexington.

So he let Brian watch the kids, and every other weekend I got the kids, she said. But Brian was their caregiver and he's been their caregiver for the last three months.

Nobody ever expected this out of this man. But you can never tell, you can't ever judge a book by its cover.

Brian Crabtree's charges were upgraded to murder Friday in Fayette District Court. He pleaded not guilty, although an arrest citation indicated that he had given a recorded confession to police.

A preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday morning was postponed until Dec. 12 because Crabtree had just been appointed a public defender.

Johns said she and Katelynn's father were together for five years and had been married. They separated several months ago. Johns said she lived in London for two years until February, when she moved back to Lexington.

We separated because ... it was two different people, she said. But as far as my relationship with him, I mean, when Katelynn passed away, we've come together good. He's my friend, I'm his friend. He tries his best in life. He had the kids for a little while, since July 4, and he raised them the best way he could. I'm proud of him for that. He's a great guy, but we just didn't get along.

When she first saw Daniel after Katelynn's attack, she said, I grabbed his hand and hugged. We was there for our daughter. We didn't argue with each other, some people didn't like it, but we didn't care. It was our daughter.

The attack occurred two days before Thanksgiving, and Katelynn remained in a medically-induced coma until her death Dec. 3.

I was there with her every day, every night, Johns said. I spent the night every night, there every day. I was in the room when they pronounced her dead. I was there through the whole thing.

Johns said she had taken Katelynn and her brother home the weekend prior to the attack, and hadn't noticed any injuries.

Katelynn's 3-year-old brother Matthew was taken into protective custody after his sister's attack. Johns said there was no sign that the boy had been abused.

Other than a two-minute phone call on Thanksgiving, Johns hasn't spoken to her son and does not know where he is staying.

Her (Katelynn) and Matthew were inseparable. They were best friends, she said. I don't know how I'm going to break it to him, but hopefully he don't understand. He don't know anything. He knows she's in the hospital. I don't even know if he's seen what happened.

Johns said both her youngest children were well-mannered and smart. Katelynn was already speaking sentences and, through the influence of older brothers, was becoming a bit of a tomboy.

She was very vibrant, wonderful, had a personality, she was so special. Everyone that encountered Katelynn, she touched in some way, Johns said. She was I'm not going to say was she is the best thing that ever happened to me.

Johns is making funeral arrangements with the help of her pastor at River of Life Church of God in Lexington. Ellison Funeral Home in Williamsburg is handling arrangements free of charge. Funeral Home Director Jim Paul said both the casket and the vault were donated to the family.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at River of Life Church of God, 1757 Wilderness Road in Lexington. Burial will follow at Clintonville Cemetery. Visitation will be after 6 p.m. Saturday (today) at the church.

A memorial fund in Katelynn's name has been established through Community Trust Bank. Paul said donations made to the account will be used to support children who are victims of abuse.

Johns and her family arrived at the funeral home in Williamsburg Friday to collect photos for a memorial, choose music for the services and select a coffin. While family members comforted her, she took photos of the coffin and the dress with her cell phone to send to Katelynn's father.

It was final whenever I held her lifeless body in the hospital, but that was just so, so real right there, John said after making her selection. All I'm worried about is getting her to rest.

She was my everything. I'm just glad the person that did it is in jail.

Joe

HOUSTON, Texas

U.S.A.