REMEMBERING ADDISON

Addison Rosalie Weast was sixteen months old. At that age, her world should have been filled with discovery. She should have been learning new words, exploring everything within reach and becoming more independent with every passing day. Instead, Addison’s life ended after she was left in the care of her mother’s boyfriend, Cody Williams Geddings. Addison was not old enough to explain what happened to her. But her injuries told doctors that the explanations being given for them did not make sense. She survived for two days after being critically injured. On April 2, 2010, Addison died. She had lived for less than a year and a half.

ADDISON’S STORY

On March 31, 2010, Addison’s mother, Jaime Higgons, left her daughter in Cody Geddings’ care while she attended a class. Something happened to Addison while her mother was away. When Jaime returned, she was told that Addison had fallen from her playpen. Addison was rushed for emergency medical care. At the hospital, doctors immediately became concerned that the injuries they were seeing could not be explained by an ordinary fall. Police were contacted. As investigators questioned Cody, his explanation changed. One version was that Addison had fallen from her playpen and then suffered a seizure. Another was that Addison had been outside when a gas canister fell from an unstable stool and struck her. Doctors found catastrophic injuries. Addison had multiple skull fractures. Her brain was severely swollen. She suffered retinal hemorrhaging. At Cody’s later trial, physicians testified that Addison’s injuries were consistent with violent shaking and abusive head trauma rather than the accidental explanations offered for them. Addison remained hospitalized for two days. Her injuries were too severe. On April 2, 2010, sixteen month old Addison Rosalie Weast died.

WARNING SIGNS

After Addison was critically injured, investigators discovered that this was not the first time Cody Geddings had been accused of seriously injuring a very young child.

In June 2009, less than a year before Addison’s death, Cody had faced child abuse and neglect allegations involving his own infant son. That baby had suffered serious injuries, including a fractured skull and broken nose. Cody claimed the injuries happened accidentally after he dropped the child while reaching for a diaper following a bath. During that earlier investigation, Cody reportedly acknowledged problems controlling his anger and admitted striking walls and breaking windows. Months later, Addison was left alone in his care. She suffered catastrophic head injuries. And once again, Cody offered explanations involving an accidental injury to a very young child. This time, the child did not survive.

JUSTICE FOR ADDISON

Cody Geddings was prosecuted for Addison’s death. The case eventually went before a Clark County jury in January 2012. During the trial, jurors heard competing explanations for Addison’s injuries. The defense presented testimony suggesting that a falling gas canister could have caused some of her injuries. Doctors who treated and examined Addison testified about the severity of her brain and eye injuries and described findings consistent with violent shaking and abusive trauma. The jury rejected the accidental explanation. Cody was found guilty of second degree murder and child neglect. He was later sentenced to 14 years to life in prison.

Cody Williams Geddings

Relationship to Addison: Mother’s boyfriend

Convictions: Second degree murder and child neglect

Sentence: 14 years to life in prison

FOREVER REMEMBERED

Addison was sixteen months old. She could not sit across from investigators and explain what happened while her mother was gone. She could not challenge the stories being told about a playpen, a seizure or a falling object. Her injuries had to speak for her. And eventually, a jury listened. But justice after Addison’s death could never give her back what was taken from her. She should have grown beyond sixteen months. There should have been more words to learn. More places to explore. More birthdays. More photographs. An entire childhood should have followed those first sixteen months. Addison Rosalie Weast deserved gentle hands and adults who kept her safe. She deserved to grow up. Abuse Angels remembers Addison Rosalie Weast. Remembered. Honored. Never Forgotten.