Mother and her two transgender lovers 'failed miserably' as parents before death of boy, 7, they're now accused of murdering

By EMMA RICHTER, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 22:17, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 22:18, 13 August 2026 An Ohio mother and her two transgender lovers 'failed miserably' as parents before the death of her seven-year-old son whom the trio is accused of murdering, a prosecutor said.  Little William Michael Evans-Ellis was found dead and duct-taped inside a closet at a Cincinnati apartment on the afternoon of August 6, Hamilton County Coroner Dr Lakshmi Sammarco said on Tuesday.  Evans-Ellis also had several injuries to his head, a broken bone, and 'too many bruises to count,' Sammarco revealed. He is believed to have been dead for at least a day, she added. His mother, Kaitlin Evans, 38, and her two partners, Nessa Keaney, 23, and Kirby Rankin, both 33, have since been charged with his brutal murder.  Officials concluded that the little boy was tortured to death and died of blunt force trauma to the head. They also believe he may have been sexually assaulted before he died. His mother and his 'co-parents,' Keaney and Rankin, have been indicted by a grand jury on 13 counts of aggravated murder, murder, kidnapping, felonious assault, endangering children, and conspiracy to commit aggravated murder and kidnapping, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced on Thursday.  Pillich didn't hold back when describing her total disgust for the suspects.  'They failed miserably as parents. They committed atrocious acts causing this child to suffer terribly. William Michael Evans-Ellis, seven, was found dead inside a closet at an apartment in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 6. The coroner's office determined that he died from blunt force trauma to the head and was likely molested before his death The boy's mother, Kaitlin Evans (pictured), 38, and her two transgender lovers, Nessa Keaney and Kirby Rankin have since been indicted over his death Nessa Keaney, 23, and Kirby Rankin, 33, are each being held on a $1.1 million bond (Pictured: Rankin - left, Kirby - right) 'As for all of these monsters' crimes that were committed, I'm going to do everything to make sure these people never again see the light of day and never again have the opportunity to harm another child.'  The charges against the trio carry a possible life sentence for each of them without the chance of parole, but Pillich said the investigation remains ongoing.  'It takes months for investigators and law enforcement to compile all the evidence. We've had 10 days so far, the prosecutor said, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.  They are each being held on $1.1 million bonds.  Hamilton County court records previously seen by the Daily Mail indicate that both Keaney and Rankin are biological males. Evans is the boy's biological mother.  Rankin's birth name Nathan Rankin and Keaney's birth name Adamhnan Judaydon Caoilte Lugh Keaney were both used on the indictment. Investigators said the boy suffered visible injuries which included 'indicated physical beatings' over his body. He also suffered impact injuries to the back of his head, had been water tortured for a period of time, and was badly burned, investigators said. Evans-Ellis is believed to have been dead for at least a day inside the apartment (pictured), officials said Officials concluded that the little boy was tortured to death and died of blunt force trauma to the head. They also believe he may have been sexually assaulted before his death An attorney for Evans has claimed that she did not cause the death of her son, and that one of the other suspects did, but neither Rankin nor Keaney were explicitly named. Her attorney did say in court that she had failed to save her son and pleaded with the judge for a $250,000 bond.  Their indictment comes just a day after the Daily Mail uncovered that Evans-Ellis's father is also transgender.  Tara Ellis, who is entirely innocent of wrongdoing in the case, began living as a woman some time after her late son's birth in 2019. Tara petitioned for a name change in 2023, according to court papers seen by the Daily Mail. She is said to have begun a four-way open relationship, known as a polycule, with  Evans, Keaney and Kirby before Evans-Ellis's death.  Evans-Ellis's father, Tara Ellis, is also transgender, the Daily Mail previously revealed. Tara shared a distressing statement in court last week when the three suspects were arraigned. She is entirely innocent of wrongdoing in the case Tara moved out of the home before Evans-Ellis's death, and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on her part.  She said in court that she last saw her son in December 2025, nine months before his death.  She shared a distressing statement in court last week when the three suspects were arraigned.  'Willie was my life. I trusted you to care for him. They kept him from me for the past nine months over lies,' she said through tears.