Inset, from left: Katrina Sudberry and Gregory Glenn Martin (Newport News Police Department). Background: The Newport News, Virginia, apartment complex where a 5-year-old boy was allegedly fatally abused (Google Maps).
Authorities in Virginia have released new information in the death of a 5-year-old boy, a case that has now led to murder and child abuse charges against both a woman and a man in Newport News.
Katrina Sudberry, 27, is charged with second-degree murder and felony child abuse in connection with the child’s death, according to the Newport News Police Department, as Law&Crime previously reported.
Police said this week that Gregory Glenn Martin, 30, is also facing charges, including second-degree murder, child abuse or neglect causing serious injury, and failing to provide accurate information for the sex offender registry.
Recently unsealed court records provide a clearer look at the period leading up to the boy’s death, according to authorities.
The investigation began July 16 at a home on Walden Pond Court in Newport News, the police department said in a press release.
Officers were dispatched to the residence that afternoon after receiving a report of an unresponsive 5-year-old boy, police said. Emergency medical personnel performed lifesaving efforts before transporting the child to a nearby hospital, where he died later that evening.
“Following an autopsy by the Office of the Medical Examiner, it was determined the boy died from internal injuries suffered as a result of blunt force trauma,” the Newport News Police Department said.
The next day, Sudberry, the child’s mother, was arrested and charged after she admitted to physically punishing her son in the days leading up to his death, according to a criminal complaint obtained by Hampton-based ABC affiliate WVEC.
The woman admitted to disciplining the child with her hands and a belt, police said. Sudberry also forced him into exercises including push-ups and wall squats, according to the charging document.
Sudberry, who is pregnant with Martin’s child, also told investigators that on the morning of the child’s death, she left the 5-year-old alone with Martin and returned 45 minutes later to find that a belt used by both adults for disciplining had the buckle broken off. The mother added that the belt was intact before she left that day, police said.
The mother allegedly told investigators she did not immediately call 911 because she “knew how it would look.”
Text messages show the couple discussing the child’s punishment, according to court documents obtained by Norfolk-based CBS affiliate WTKR and Portsmouth-based NBC affiliate WAVY.
“He got more bruises we tryna get rid of the other ones,” Sudberry allegedly told Martin.
The man allegedly replied: “we needa make an agreement either u gone let me whoop him or not.”
The woman continued to confront the man about the abuse – sending along pictures of the boy’s injuries – according to police.
“OK, I won’t whoop him no more then,” Martin allegedly said at one point. “Trina, I’m not gone whoop him again das on my life I won’t ima leave you to that you I’ll keep it strictly to workouts but he not scared of the workouts.”
Investigators said the autopsy determined the child had injuries to the liver, stomach and intestines, along with what was described as “catastrophic” injuries across the little boy’s body.
Both Martin and Sudberry are being detained in the Newport News Jail. They are slated to appear in court on Sept. 9.
The post ‘I won’t whoop him no more’: Shocking new details revealed in death of 5-year-old boy who died from ‘catastrophic’ injuries all over his body, police say first appeared on Law & Crime.
