PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — A Wood County man was sentenced Tuesday to spend 40 years in prison for causing the death of a 16-month-old boy.
William Travis Schoonover, 40, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty in February to second degree murder in connection with the death of Evan Kaije Wright, who was the son of Schoonover’s girlfriend at the time.
Schoonover told authorities he shook the boy by his ankles because he would not hold still while he was trying to change his diaper.
The baby suffered head trauma and other injuries. He died at a Columbus, Ohio hospital.
Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure told MetroNews in February his office decided to offer Schoonover a plea bargain instead of taking him to trial because of the emotions associated with the case and the continuing struggles of the victim’s mother.
“She’s had great difficulty emotionally in dealing with the problems that have come since that time and she was someone we really looked at when we’re trying to make the determination whether or not we should proceed with the trial or enter the plea,” Lefebure said. “She was in favor of the plea, wanted to go through with the plea, ultimately we agreed with her.”
Lefebure sought the maximum sentence in the case. Wood County Circuit Court Judge Robert Waters handed down the 40-year prison term in Tuesday’s hearing.