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CHILD FOUND DEAD
Cook Stove Falls On Top Of 2-Year-Old And Kills Child; Family Speaks Out

Reported by: Send eMail Kallie Cart
Web Producer: Kallie Cart
Reported: Jan. 16, 2013 10:11 AM EST
Updated: Jan. 17, 2013 10:53 AM EST

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Branchland , Lincoln County , West Virginia

A 2-year-old little boy was crushed and killed by a kitchen oven in Lincoln County. Police say criminal charges will likely be coming because adults were home, but asleep, at the time of the incident and because of the condition of the home.

"I lost it, I couldn't handle it, I wish it wasn't true," Betty Christian says. Her 2-year-old son Chevy Waughtel was killed on Monday after a stove fell on top of him.

The incident happened at the family's rental home off of Trace Fork Road in the Branchland area.

Police say the little boy was climbing on the door of the free-standing electric range, when it fell over on him, killing him.

Christian says her boyfriend's son, who's also 2-years-old, was playing on the stove with Chevy, but escaped with only scratches.

The children's grandmother, Pearl Christian, and her boyfriend were home at the time of the incident, around 10am Monday. The grandmother was asleep when it happened and says her boyfriend was supposed to be watching the kids, but fell asleep too.

"I went through the house and I looked over toward the stove and I saw Chevy with the stove on top of him," Pearl Christian says. "I know I shouldn't have gone to sleep, I should have stayed up."

By the time the little boy was found, he was trapped under the stove and unresponsive.

West Virginia State Police say charges against the adults, who were home at the time, are likely.

"It's a terrible tragedy but the house was very dilapidated," WV State Police Cpl. G.H. Ellis says.

But the family says they don't understand why they are being investigated and say they've suffered enough.

"My mom, she would never hurt my baby," Betty Christian says.

"It is a nightmare, I wish it was me," Pearl Christian says as she fights through her sobbing.

Police say they are awaiting autopsy results and aren't sure what the adults will be charged with.

Christian's three other children are now in state custody.




West Virginia State Police are investigating the death of a 2-year-old child in the Branchland area of Lincoln County.

State Police Capt. Dave Nelson said the child was found dead under a large cook stove in the home's kitchen Monday. State Police believe the stove was in an unstable spot on the floor, but they are not sure how it fell over and trapped the child.

State Police are investigating to determine if any charges will be filed against the caretaker of the child. The caretaker was sleeping when the incident happened, State Police said.

Keep it tuned to Eyewitness News for the latest information.



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