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crime4h ago
'Rat-bitten' autistic boy, 4, given meth and tortured to death by carer
- Stephens pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping resulting in substantial bodily harm, and child abuse in the 2018 case involving a 4-year-old boy in Las Vegas.
- A judge sentenced Stephens to life in prison without the possibility of parole after the plea.
- Authorities cited extensive injuries and signs of abuse, including rib fractures and a lacerated liver, in determining homicide.
- The victim, Brandon Steckler Jr., was nonverbal due to autism and was nicknamed 'Tuku' by loved ones.
- Child Protective Services had been contacted multiple times about concerns prior to the murder, but investigations were unsubstantiated.
- Stephens admitted responsibility during court proceedings, but her public defender said there is no justification for the actions.
- The victim, Brandon Steckler Jr., lived with injuries and malnutrition at the time of death, with autopsy details described in court.
- Stephens initially told authorities the boy had drowned, altering her story after the incident.
- The case drew attention as one of the most brutal child abuse cases in Nevada in recent memory.
- Brandon Steckler Jr. was celebrated by family members for the joy he brought to those around him.
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