Prime Crime: 5 Child Murder Tragedies That Shocked the Nation

Tragic Cases of Child Murder

• 💔 This special episode of Prime Crime revisits five heartbreaking cases where children were victims of horrific crimes, emphasizing the importance of protecting the vulnerable.
• ❓ The cases raise critical questions about missed signs, prevention, and who can be trusted with children's safety.

Johanna Artega: A Crime of Opportunity

• 👧 12-year-old Johanna Artega was murdered in her home, with her cause of death being strangulation and signs of sexual assault.
• 🔍 Neighbor Roy Coons Jr., a man with a significant criminal history, became a suspect due to DNA evidence and his suspicious behavior and statements.
• 📱 Johanna's final text messages identifying the yard worker as someone at her door around the time of her murder were crucial in the investigation.
• ⚖️ Coons was convicted of second-degree murder, felony murder, attempted rape of a child, and aggravated criminal trespassing, receiving a life sentence plus 25 years.

Hannah Wesy: The Babysitter's Confession

• 👶 Three-year-old Hannah Wesy died from inflicted trauma, including severe brain swelling and retinal hemorrhages, indicating child abuse.
• 🗣️ Babysitter Lindsay Parton initially claimed Hannah collapsed but later confessed to slapping, shaking, and squeezing the child, leading to her death.
• 👨‍👧 Detectives also investigated Hannah's father, Jason, but evidence pointed towards Parton's actions as the cause of death.
• 🔒 Lindsay Parton was found guilty of child endangerment, manslaughter, and murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 15 years.

Ayanna Sawyer: A Family Betrayal

• 🤰 16-year-old Ayanna Sawyer, who was five months pregnant, disappeared after leaving school.
• 💻 A document on her laptop revealed a secret relationship with her uncle, Jonathan Quillz, referred to as 'Jose'.
• 💔 DNA evidence found on Ayanna's underwear linked Quillz to her, and his brother reported that Quillz confessed to strangling and then shooting Ayanna when he couldn't go through with strangulation.
• 🕵️ Despite the lack of a body, Quillz was indicted and convicted of first-degree murder for Ayanna and her unborn child, receiving three consecutive life sentences without parole.

Harmony Montgomery: A Prolonged Absence

• 👧 Seven-year-old Harmony Montgomery was reported missing by her mother, but hadn't been seen in over two years.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Harmony's father, Adam Montgomery, and his wife, Kayla, both with histories of drug abuse, had custody of Harmony.
• 💔 Evidence suggested Adam Montgomery was responsible for Harmony's death, with his wife Kayla eventually testifying that he murdered Harmony after a bathroom accident in the car.
• ⚖️ Adam Montgomery was convicted of second-degree murder, assault, witness tampering, falsifying evidence, and abuse of a corpse, and sentenced to 45 years to life in prison. Harmony's remains have never been found.

Anthony Tote: A Family Annihilation

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Anthony Tote murdered his wife Megan, their three children (Alec, Tyler, and Zoe), and their dog, Breezy, at their Florida condominium.
• 💸 Tote claimed his actions were a suicide pact to avoid the end of the world and escape financial ruin, with his wife's alleged wish to die together.
• 🗣️ He confessed to suffocating and stabbing his children and wife, though he later claimed to have no memory of the events and attempted to blame his wife.
• 🔒 Despite his claims of innocence and memory loss, Tote was convicted of first-degree murder and cruelty to animals, and sentenced to life in prison without parole.