Hayden Vickers -- Deceased 2/19/11

Informative article! A jury of seven women and five men have been impaneled and they heard opening arguments on Monday, 11-14-11.

The trial resumes today with an Abilene Police Department (APD) officer's testimony. He was the first officer on the scene.
__________



Trial begins in child death

Posted November 14, 2011 at 11 p.m.

Abilene Reporter-News
Abilene, Tx

The man accused of beating a 2-year-old Abilene boy to death spent the majority of the first day of his murder trial Monday with clasped hands and a pensive expression.

Franklin Edward Ramey Jr., 31, faces life in prison if convicted in the death of Hayden Vickers, who was found Feb. 18 with what police called injuries consistent with "abusive head trauma."

On Monday, a jury of seven women and five men listened to opening arguments in 104th District Court.

"There's evidence that's going to tell you what blow killed Hayden," said Joel Wilks, assistant district attorney.

Read more:

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/nov/14/no-headline---vickers_trial/?partner=yahoo_feeds

Photo courtesy: freddie123

~ ~ ~ Justice for Hayden Vickers! ~ ~ ~

Trial Underway for Man Accused of Murdering Toddler

Reported by: Bigcountryhomepage.com Staff Reports
KTAB/KRBC - Abilene, Tx

Tuesday, November 15 2011




Testimony is beginning today in an Abilene murder trial.

Franklin Ramey Jr. is charged with murder in the death of a 2-year-old boy.

Read more:

http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=436877

Trial Begins For Abilene Man Accused Of Murder Of 2-Year-Old Boy

By Jocelyn Tovar, KTXS News
Abilene, Tx

POSTED: 1:00 pm CST November 15, 2011
UPDATED: 1:06 pm CST November 15, 2011



ABILENE, Texas -- An Abilene murder trial is underway for a man accused of killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old boy in February.

Read more:

http://www.ktxs.com/news/29776730/detail.html

Wow! We are now learning the facts in this case. Amber Vickers, the mother of Hayden, testified on Tuesday.

At the time of Hayden's death, Vickers testified Hayden had severe diaper rash and a number of bruises. Also, her surviving two children now live with her parents. Vickers said she is working with Child Protective Services to try to regain custody. I am glad to hear that the children are with family. I hope they are in a good environment.

The nurse who took care of Hayden at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth (where Hayden was eventually life flighted) , also testified Tuesday.

The nurse testified that Vickers did not seem emotionally connected to Hayden as she would expect. "She seemed more concerned with needing to take a shower."

Also, the reason Amber Vickers left her three children with Franklin Ramey, Jr. that fatal day was because she went to her grandmother's home to borrow $5 for cigarettes from family members!
Borrow money for cigarettes?

Why not borrow money to treat the severe diaper rash?

Ann-Tx shakes her head and walks away with disgust . . . . .

I realize that newspapers have limited space and I want to commend and thank The Abilene
Reporter-News for covering this case. I am very disappointed in the shallow content of the coverage from KTAB/KRBC and KTXS in Abilene. With the info they have provided so far, I could call Judge Lee Hamilton's clerk or staff and get that info. Maybe that is what they are doing. It is apparent the reporter from the Reporter-News is in the court room!

Please see the article below for info regarding Tuesday's testimony.

Mother testifies against ex-boyfriend accused of killing toddler
Vickers says ex-boyfriend didn't call 911

By Denise Blaz
Abilene Reporter-News - Abilene, Tx

Posted November 15, 2011 at 11 p.m.



Photo by Nellie Doneva
Nellie Doneva/Reporter-News

Amber Vickers leaves the Taylor County Courthouse after testifying in the trial of Franklin Edward Ramey Jr., who is accused of killing Vickers' 2-year-old son, Hayden Vickers, in February.

Vickers says ex-boyfriend didn't call 911

By Denise Blaz

The mother of an Abilene toddler testified Tuesday that the man who prosecutors say beat her son to death refused to call 911 to get help for the boy.

Franklin Edward Ramey Jr., 31, faces life in prison if convicted of murder and injury to a child in relation to a February incident that left Hayden Vickers, 2, with what police called injuries consistent with "abusive head trauma." The child died the next day.

Amber Vickers, 24, on Tuesday told jurors in 104th District Court that, on the morning of Feb. 18, she went to her grandmother's house to borrow $5 from family members to buy cigarettes, leaving her three children with Ramey, her then-boyfriend.

Read more:

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/nov/15/mother-testifies-against-ex-boyfriend-accused-of/

An article about this trial is mentioned on the website of the Texas District & County Attorneys Association (TDCAA) - Austin, Tx

When I tried to copy and paste it, The Abilene Reporter article appeared which I've already posted upthread.

http://www.tdcaa.com/issues/trial-begins-child-death
TDCAA Issues/ Trial begins in child death

Snipped:

Trial begins in child death

Posted November 14, 2011 at 11 p.m.
Abilene Reporter News

The man accused of beating a 2-year-old Abilene boy to death spent the majority of the first day of his murder trial Monday with clasped hands and a pensive expression.

Franklin Edward Ramey Jr., 31, faces life in prison if convicted in the death of Hayden Vickers, who was found Feb. 18 with what police called injuries consistent with "abusive head trauma."

Pediatrician Describes Toddler's Injuries in Abilene Murder Trial

Reported by: Bigcountryhomepage.com Staff Reports
KTAB/KRBC - Abilene, Tx

Wednesday, November 16 2011

The pediatrician who treated 2-year-old Haden Vickers this morning testified that the child suffered a very serious head injury.

Read more:

http://bigcountryhomepage.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=437437

Per this article, trial is recessed until Friday, 11-18-11 when the Medical Examiner will testify.
_________


Death Of 2-Year-Old Child: Abilene Murder Trial Goes Into Recess

By Jocelyn Tovar, KTXS News
Abilene, Tx

POSTED: 1:11 pm CST November 16, 2011
UPDATED: 1:21 pm CST November 16, 2011

ABILENE, Texas -- The murder trial of a man accused of killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old son is in recess until Friday.

Franklin Ramey Jr., 31, is standing trial for the death of 2-year-old Hayden Vickers on Feb. 19.

Read more:

http://www.ktxs.com/news/29786560/detail.html

Abilene murder trial in recess until Friday

By Denise Blaz
Abilene Reporter-News - Abilene, Tx

Posted November 16, 2011 at 11 p.m.

The trial of a man accused of killing a 2-year-old boy in February will be in recess until Friday morning to allow an out-of-town medical examiner time to travel to Abilene to testify for the prosecution.

Testimony ended Wednesday in the trial of Franklin Edward Ramey Jr., 31, with an Abilene Police Department officer on the stand.

Detective Frank Shoemaker told jurors he gave Ramey an opportunity to make corrections to the official statement he gave police.

Read more:

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/nov/16/abilene-murder-trial-in-recess-until-friday/

Ramey murder trial to resume today

From staff reports
Abilene Reporter-News - Abilene, Tx

Posted November 17, 2011 at 11 p.m.

The trial of Franklin Edward Ramey Jr., the Abilene man accused of killing 2-year-old Hayden Vickers in February, is scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. today in 104th District Court.

The trial was recessed Wednesday afternoon so Mark Krouse, chief deputy medical examiner from Tarrant County, could travel to Abilene to testify.

Read more:

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/nov/17/ramey-murder-trial-to-resume-today/
_______

The trial resumes today (Friday), 11-18-11.

The article is dated 11-17-11 (11 p.m.). Maybe Abilene Reporter-News will correct it later today.

Ramey trial (updated 11:40 a.m.): State rests; accused likely on stand this afternoon

Posted November 18, 2011 at 9:47 a.m.
Updated November 18, 2011 at 11:43 a.m.

The Abilene Reporter-News - Abilene, Tx

The prosecution has rested in the trial of Franklin Edward Ramey Jr. who is accused in the death of 2-year-old Hayden Vickers earlier this year.

The trial is on lunch break until 1:15 p.m.

Read more:

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/nov/18/ramey-trial-after-medical-examiner-testifies-prose/
________

Per this article, it appears Franklin Ramey, Jr., the Defendant will testify and may be the first on the stand for his Defense.

Trial Resumes for Man Accused of Murdering Toddler

Reported by: Bigcountryhomepage.com Staff Reports
KTAB/KRBC - Abilene, Tx

Friday, November 18 2011

The trial of a man charged with murder in the death of a toddler is resuming today in the Taylor County Courthouse.

Read more:

http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=438377

The jury is deliberating!

______


Jury Deliberating In Murder Trial For Man Accused Of Killing Abilene Toddler

By Jocelyn Tovar
KTXS News - Abilene, Tx

POSTED: 11:50 am CST November 18, 20
UPDATED: 6:29 pm CST November 18, 2011





ABILENE, Texas -- The jury is deliberating in the murder trial for Franklin Ramey Jr. He is standing trial for the February 19th death of two-year-old Hayden Vickers.

Friday afternoon the jury was shown pictures of the deceased toddler as the medical examiner who worked the case testified.

The medical examiner said Hayden's death was linked to blunt force trauma to the head and what he classified as a homicide.
Read more:

http://www.ktxs.com/news/29805613/detail.html

Per this article, Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr. did not take the stand as expected.

If I understand this article correctly, it appears the State rested their case, the Defense did not put on any witnesses, there were closing arguments and Judge Hamilton handed down the case to the jury for deliberations. The reporter did not state this in these words but that is the conclusion I get from the article.
________


Ramey trial (updated 6 p.m.): Jury still deliberating

Posted November 18, 2011 at 9:47 a.m.
Updated November 18, 2011 at 6:02 p.m.

The Abilene Reporter News - Abilene, Tx

The jury deliberating the fate of Franklin Edward Ramey Jr. is back from its break and determining his fate.

Earlier, the jury asked for clarification on the timeline on the death of a 2-year-old, but Judge Lee Hamilton and attorneys have kicked back the request because they said it was too vague.

Read more:

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/nov/18/ramey-trial-after-medical-examiner-testifies-prose/

Special prayers and thoughts that the jury finds Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr. guilty as charged.

~ ~ ~ Justice for precious Hayden Vickers! ~ ~~

Hung Jury! Will be tried again - pobably in the spring.

The good news is the jury did not come back with "Not Guilty."

I did not attend the trial and therefore, did not hear the testimony. Based on what was reported by the media at the time of Hayden's death and during trial, I really thought Ramey would be found guilty.

Like the great majority of these type of cases, this is a circumstantial evidence case. Ramey was the only one there at the the time of Hayden's death. Being that the jury was hung, I guess some on the jury needed a video of Ramey in action! Disgusting!

Hayden, maybe at the next trial, justice will be served . . . for you!

I promise I will keep monitoring this case!

____________


Hung jury declared in trial of Abilene man accused of killing 2-year-old

By Brian Bethel, Greg Kendall-Ball
Abilene Reporter-News -- Abilene, Tx

Posted November 18, 2011 at 11:53 p.m.

The trial of an Abilene man charged with the murder of a 2-year-old boy ended in a hung jury late Friday night.

“Apparently the jury, we don’t know exactly, couldn’t reach a verdict,” said Assistant District Attorney Joel Wilks about 11:30 p.m., after jurors debated for more than seven hours whether or not Franklin Edward Ramey Jr., 31, was responsible for the February death of Hayden Vickers.

“It just means it will go back on the court’s docket and it will be rescheduled, probably for sometime in the spring would be my guess,” Wilks said.

Read more:

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/nov/18/hung-jury-declared-trial-abilene-man-accused-killi/

.

Special thanks to the Abilene Reporter-News for covering this trial in detail!

I am very disappointed in the "shallow" reporting by KTAB/KRBE and KTXS. They covered the trial but it must have been via phone. The info they provided I could have got via phone.

They did excellent coverage on keeping Billie Jean Dunn in the news and catering to her and the side shows (so it seems) but I guess the homicide of a 2 year old special needs child is not a top priority for their reporters. Just my opinion!


The gold star goes to the reporters of the Abilene Reporter-News in Abilene, Tx:

Justice4All, please move Hayden's thread back to:

Awaiting Trial

I wish Judge Lee Hamilton would have not allowed the jury to deliberate past 7 p.m. I wish he would have sent the jury home and let them resume deliberations on Monday.

Perhaps the outcome of this trial would have been different.

In the article from the Abilene Reporter-News, Assistant District Attorney Joel Wilks made a comment at 11:30 p.m. about the jury deliberating more than 7 hours.

The jury must have been exhausted if they were in court all day and then deliberated until perhaps 10:30 or 11 p.m. That would be mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted!

I have served on juries before and I know how draining deliberations can be. Maybe the jury needed the week-end to clear their head.

http://taylorcountytexas.org/DistAttorney.html
State of Texas - County of Taylor - District Attorney

District Attorney James Eidson

325-674-1261

Mailing Address:
300 Oak Street, Suite 300
Abilene, TX 79602

Info on Joel Wilks:


Joel Wilks Legal Experience: 13 years

Law School: Texas Tech University

Degree/Year: Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.) 1998

Jurisdictions: Texas

Office Address/Phone

300 Oak St
Abilene, TX 79602
(325) 674-1261

Member: Texas State Bar 1998-Current

Source:
http://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/joel-wilks-317871
Justia.com

Per the Taylor County District Clerk records re Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr. - Case No. 18110-B:

Jeff Johnson is Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr.'s court appointed attorney.

With Ramey's background, I did not think he could afford to retain his own counsel.

I am disappointed about the outcome of this trial. I am very sad for Hayden.

One thing we know for sure, Hayden, an innocent and defenseless two year old toddler did not inflict his own injuries!

I can only imagine how devastated Hayden's family must be over the news of a "Hung" jury.

Hopefully, the next trial will provide justice for Hayden!

Judge Rules Mistrial For Man Accused Of Killing Abilene Toddler

By Jocelyn Tovar
KTXS News - Abilene, Tx

POSTED: 11:50 am CST November 18, 2011
UPDATED: 11:55 pm CST November 18, 2011





ABILENE, Texas -- After a Taylor County Jury deliberated for nearly eight hours Judge Lee Hamilton declared a mistrial in the murder trial for Franklin Ramey Jr. late Friday evening.

The jury was said to be "deadlocked" and returned a note to Judge Hamilton stating no amount of additional testimony would help.

Read more:

http://www.ktxs.com/news/29805613/detail.html

UPDATE: Jury Deliberates Late into Night in Abilene Murder Trial

Reported by: Bigcountryhomepage.com Staff Reports
KTAB/KRBC - Abilene, Tx

Friday, November 18 2011





UPDATE Friday 11:15 pm: The jury in Franklin Ramey, Jr.'s murder trial continued deliberating late into the night Friday. Ramey is accused of killing 2-year-old Hayden Vickers earlier this year.

The jury went into deliberation just before 4 pm/

Read more:

http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=437437

Many of these juries lately leave a lot to be desired. I'm getting the impression that they aren't comprehending the judge's instructions, are refusing to look at circumstantial evidence, and want to be done with the deliberations as fast as they can.

Ramey expected to be re-tried next year

By Denise Blaz
Abilene Reporter-News
Abilene, Tx

Posted November 21, 2011 at 11 p.m.

Franklin Ramey Jr., whose murder trial last week ended with a hung jury, will be retried next year in connection with the death of a 2-year-old boy.

Assistant District Attorney Joel Wilks said the case will be tried again, possibly in March or April.

Jeff Johnson, Ramey's attorney, said Monday the case will have to "tee off again."

On Friday, Ramey's murder trial ended with a hung jury. He was being tried for the February death of Hayden Vickers.

Read more:

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2011/nov/21/ramey-expected-to-be-re-tried-next-year/?partner=yahoo_feeds

Accused Murderer Will Stand Trial Again In Abilene

By Joe Fry, KTXS News
Abilene, Tx

POSTED: 4:43 pm CST November 22, 2011
UPDATED: 7:17 pm CST November 22, 2011

ABILENE, Texas -- The murder trial for Franklin Ramey Jr. which ended in a hung jury, will be tried again next year.

Read more:

http://www.ktxs.com/news/29836324/detail.html

Man Accused of Murdering Toddler to Face 2nd Trial After Hung Jury



Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr.


Reported by: Bigcountryhomepage.com Staff Reports
KTAB/KRBC - Abilene, Tx

Monday, November 21 2011

An Abilene man's murder trial will be rescheduled after a jury failed to reach a verdict last week.

Read more:

http://bigcountryhomepage.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=439307

Thinking of Hayden Vickers on Thanksgiving Day . . .




Gone . . . but not forgotten! "Happy Thanksgiving, precious little Hayden" . . . in Heaven where you are safe!

Case #18110-B - Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr.

03/26/2012 Jury Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Hamilton, Lee)

Location: 104th District Court - Abilene, Tx

Source:

http://69.39.36.76/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=16943986
State of Texas - Taylor County Court Records Inquiry
_______

Per the above inquiry, Ramey's second trial is scheduled for 3/26/12.

Child abuse: Statistics tell widespread tale but crime preventable, Big Country experts say

By Greg Kendall-Ball
Abilene Reporter News - Abilene, Tx

Posted February 11, 2012 at 11:48 p.m.


Nearly a year ago, 2-year-old Hayden Vickers died in a Fort Worth hospital, succumbing to what police called "abusive head trauma."

The man charged with his murder originally told police that the boy fell off the bed. But as the investigation continued, evidence of abuse surfaced.

The boy's father and great-grandmother reported Hayden had been punched in the head so hard his retina detached and the imprint of a fist could be seen on his skull.

Franklin Edward Ramey Jr. — whose trial late last year ended in a hung jury — reportedly admitted to police that he had shaken and slapped Hayden in the head and face before throwing him onto a bed. According to court documents, the boy's mother, Amber Vickers, was living with Ramey, her boyfriend, at the time of the Feb. 18, 2011, incident.

Hayden was one of the five abuse- or neglect-related fatalities in the Big Country last year, according to Child Protective Services data.

He was one of the 745 children who were abused or neglected in Taylor County in 2011.

Read more:

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/feb/11/child-abuse-statistics-tell-widespread-tale-but/

I just checked the Taylor County Clerk records and Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr. is still scheduled for a jury trial on 3/26/12.

Ann - Tx wrote:Case #18110-B - Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr.

03/26/2012 Jury Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Hamilton, Lee)

Location: 104th District Court - Abilene, Tx

Source:

http://69.39.36.76/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=16943986
State of Texas - Taylor County Court Records Inquiry
_______

Per the above inquiry, Ramey's second trial is scheduled for 3/26/12.

Info obtained via the above Link:

The following activity has taken place on the Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr. case per Taylor County Clerk records:

03/06/2012 Motion To Amend Indictment

03/06/2012 Application For Subpoena
State (24) - F Shoemaker - S Rollins - W McDaniel - M Krouse - S Clark - A Vickers - E Bennett - R Antilley - R Vickers - D Gray - L Easterling - S Samuelson - C Bain - V Wilkes - M CVorselio - R Trevino - F Solis - E Vickers - K LaFrance - A Lambe - D Schneider - K Terry - J Jackosn - M Ratto

03/26/2012 Jury Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Hamilton, Lee)

Per the above info, the second trial for Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr. is still scheduled for 3/26/12.

I also see that the State submitted their application for subpoenas on 3/6/12.

I hope Ramey is found guilty this time around. Poor little Hayden Vickers.

Webcast: Man Pleads Guilty to Murdering Toddler, Gets Prison Sentence

By: Ron Rosseau and Monica Tassoni
KTAB/KRBC - Abilene, Tx
Updated: March 26, 2012

A man charged with killing an Abilene toddler is going to prison.

Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr. pleaded guilty to murder charges in the death of 2-year-old Hayden Vickers.

Read more:

http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=482002

Defendant: Ramey, Franklin Edward, Jr.


DISPOSITIONS

03/23/2012 Plea (Judicial Officer: Hamilton, Lee)

1. MURDER
Unreported Or Unknown
2. MURDER
Guilty
3. INJURY TO A CHILD
Unreported Or Unknown

03/23/2012 Disposition (Judicial Officer: Hamilton, Lee)

1. MURDER
Waived
2. MURDER
-C-Guilty Plea Or N/C-No Jury
3. INJURY TO A CHILD
Waived

03/23/2012 Sentence--Prison (TDCJ-ID) (Judicial Officer: Hamilton, Lee)

2. MURDER
Confinement to Commence 03/23/2012
30 Years , Institutional Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ)
Provisions (With one Prior)

Source:

http://69.39.36.76/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=16943986
State of Texas - Taylor County Court Records Inquiry
~~~~~

Above bolded/colored by: Ann-Tx

Per Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr. is not transferred yet.

Per TX - VINE, Ramey is in custody at Taylor County Jail.
~~~~~

Offender Name: FRANKLIN EDWARD RAMEY

Offender ID:68727

Date of Birth:02/19/1980
Age: 32

Race: White
Gender: Male

Custody Status: In Custody

Location of Offender: TAYLOR COUNTY JAIL

Source:
https://www.vinelink.com/vinelink/detailsAction.do?siteId=44900&agency=502&id=68727&searchType=offender
VINE - TX: Search - Franklin Edward Ramey, Jr.

Abilene Man Pleads Guilty In Death Of Girlfriend's 2-Year-Old Boy

By Jocelyn Tovar, KTXS News
Abilene, Tx

POSTED: 12:24 pm CDT March 26, 2012
UPDATED: 1:40 pm CDT March 26, 2012




ABILENE, Texas -- A man accused of murdering his girlfriend's infant son was sentenced to 30 years for injury to a child.

Franklin Ramey Jr. was given 30 years in prison as a part of a deal to plead guilty to a lesser injury to a child charge.

According to his attorney, it means Ramey admitted responsibility for 2-year-old Hayden Vicker's death, although not intentionally.

Read more:

http://www.ktxs.com/news/30763154/detail.html