REMEMBERING LA'KEISHA
La'Keisha M. Roberson was born on August 18, 2003, in Kansas City, Missouri. She was just two years old when her life was taken following a brutal physical and sexual assault by her stepfather, Paul W. Turner.
La'Keisha was the daughter of Kerneishia Kyle and Keith Roberson.
On May 9, 2006, La'Keisha suffered catastrophic injuries while in Turner's care. She spent nearly two weeks fighting for her life at Children's Mercy Hospital before dying on May 21, 2006.
She was only two years old.
La'Keisha's Story
On May 9, 2006, La'Keisha was at her mother's apartment in Kansas City, Missouri, with her stepfather, Paul W. Turner, while her mother was at work.
According to investigators, Turner became angry after La'Keisha poured water onto a television.
Turner later admitted that he grabbed the little girl and shook her violently. He described lifting her by her ankles, dropping her onto the floor, and striking her repeatedly.
Investigators also learned that Turner had sexually assaulted La'Keisha.
According to the original case reporting, Turner admitted kicking La'Keisha in the head when she would not regain consciousness.
Rather than immediately obtaining emergency medical care, Turner brought the severely injured child to a nearby store to meet her mother.
When La'Keisha's mother saw her daughter's condition, she noticed bruising on her face. After La'Keisha became unresponsive, she called 911.
La'Keisha was transported to Children's Mercy Hospital, where doctors discovered massive swelling in her brain and other devastating injuries.
Turner initially claimed that La'Keisha had fallen and struck her head.
However, the severity of her injuries was inconsistent with an accidental fall.
During questioning, Turner admitted to shaking, dropping, and striking the little girl.
La'Keisha remained hospitalized in critical condition.
For nearly two weeks, medical personnel worked to save her life.
Her injuries were ultimately too severe.
On the evening of May 21, 2006, La'Keisha was removed from life support and died.
She was just two years old.
JUSTICE FOR LA'KEISHA
Following La'Keisha's hospitalization, investigators arrested Paul W. Turner.
Turner was 28 years old when he assaulted La'Keisha.
He initially faced multiple criminal charges, including first degree assault, child abuse, endangering the welfare of a child, forcible sodomy, and statutory sodomy.
Following La'Keisha's death, prosecutors pursued murder charges.
On March 26, 2010, Turner was convicted of second degree murder, abuse of a child causing death, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, forcible sodomy, and statutory sodomy.
Turner appealed his convictions.
On October 25, 2011, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, affirmed the convictions, leaving the jury's findings in place.
La'Keisha's original Abuse Angels memorial reports that Turner received a sentence of life in prison plus 30 years. The exact sentencing terms have not yet been independently confirmed through the court judgment.
Paul W. Turner
Relationship to La'Keisha: Stepfather
Conviction(s): Second degree murder, abuse of a child causing death, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, forcible sodomy, and statutory sodomy
Sentence: Life in prison plus 30 years, as reported in the original memorial
FOREVER REMEMBERED
La'Keisha M. Roberson was only two years old when her life ended.
She was a daughter and a little girl whose future should have been filled with love, safety, and opportunity.
At two years old, La'Keisha should have been learning new words, exploring her surroundings, playing, and enjoying the simple moments of childhood.
She deserved patience when she made mistakes.
She deserved comfort when she cried.
She deserved to be safe with the adults responsible for her care.
Instead, La'Keisha endured violence that no child should ever experience.
Her death on May 21, 2006, left her family facing an unimaginable loss.
La'Keisha's funeral service was held on May 27, 2006, at Palestine Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City. She was laid to rest at XII Gates Memorial Gardens.
Years after her death, a message left on her online obituary expressed love for La'Keisha and her family, remembering the little girl who should still have been here.
Although the public records preserve few details about La'Keisha's everyday personality, she deserves to be remembered as more than the circumstances of her death.
She was a child with a life that mattered.
She should have celebrated many more birthdays.
She should have experienced her first day of school, made friends, and grown into the person she was meant to become.
Her life was taken before those opportunities could become memories.
La'Keisha deserved protection.
She deserved kindness.
She deserved a childhood free from violence.
Her story will continue to be remembered, and her name will not be forgotten.
Abuse Angels remembers La'Keisha M. Roberson.
Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.
