Pastor, wife sentenced in death of foster son
Torace Weaver gets 18 years to life; Shureka Weaver gets 3 years.
Dayton pastor Torace Weaver was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison; Shureka Weaver was sentenced to three years.
A Dayton pastor and his wife were ordered to prison Friday for the murder and abuse of their 2-year-old foster son, Stanley Thomas III, who died Nov. 18, 2015.
Torace Weaver, 38, was sentenced to 18 years to life for the murder and endangerment of Thomas. He was awarded with 253 days of jail-time credit.
Shureka Weaver, 40, was sentenced to three years in prison for child endangerment. She earned 18 days of jail-time credit.
Both were found guilty last month by a Montgomery County Common Pleas Court jury. A packed courtroom gallery watched Friday’s hearing.
Reading from the pre-sentence investigation report, Judge Mary Katherine Huffman said: “When asked about the victim’s family, Mr. Weaver said, ‘I am the victim,’ “the judge said. “That is very disturbing to me, sir, that you categorize yourself as a victim in this matter.”
Huffman said the stories Torace Weaver told to police on video were “preposterous” and at no time did they explain the 20 separate blows to Stanley’s head of the serious burns to the boy’s arm and backside.
“This incident wasn’t intentional,” Torace Weaver said, apologizing to his church, family, Dayton police and Montgomery County Children Services. “Looking back up on the burns, yes, I should have taken him to the hospital . ... And I’m just saying I’m sorry.”
Prosecutors said the foster child suffered a fractured skull, bruises, scars and burns. Initially, Weaver told police the boy fell off a table. Later, he said they had been playing “Superman” when the 2-year-old slipped and hit his head against a concrete wall.
Shureka Weaver said, “No, ma’am,” when asked if she had anything to say before her sentencing for child endangerment.
Huffman said investigation found that Shureka Weaver said if her own biological child had burns like Stanley’s, the defendant would have taken them to the doctor.
“That burn was horrific,”Huffman said. “It could not and should have not have been ignored. Your complete lack of remorse and your complete lack of acknowledgement of your role certainly is of concern.”
The sentences matched those called for by prosecutors in their sentencing memoranda.
“Nothing less than a severe sentence is warranted in this case,” assistant prosecutor Kelly Madzey wrote.
“The case itself was heart-wrenching. It was a very difficult case,” said Anthony VanNoy, Torace Weaver’s attorney. “You’re dealing with the most fragile of life — a 2-year-old child — and a person who has helped so many people in his capacity as a pastor.”