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By Cara McCoy 
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 | 3:14 p.m.
Sun Archives
A Las Vegas woman was sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison for her role in the 2007 death of her live-in boyfriend's toddler son, who authorities allege was beaten to death by his father with a hammer.
Brandi Reeves, 24, in November pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm in the death of 2-year-old Zander Martino. Prosecutors said Reeves knew the boy's father, Richard Martino, was abusive and didn't report the abuse to authorities.
Reeves was sentenced to a maximum of 12 1/2 years in prison, with parole eligibility after five years. She has been in the Clark County Detention Center since July 2007 and was awarded more than two years of credit for time served.
Reeves was initially charged with second-degree murder. As part of her plea agreement, she agreed to testify at Martino's trial, which is set for November in front of District Court Judge David Wall.
Court records indicate Reeves called paramedics after finding Zander unresponsive on July 10, 2007. Emergency response personnel told police they believed the boy had been dead for at least six hours. Records indicate a Child Protective Services worker interviewed one of the other children in the home and asked if the girl knew how the boy was injured. The report said the child responded, “Dad hit Zander with a hammer last night.”
An autopsy revealed the toddler had suffered a series of “trauma-related” injuries, including bruising to the abdomen, a belly full of blood and lacerations and hemorrhages, records indicate.
Martino, who is being held without bail, is charged with murder in the boy's death.
The parent should be made to suffer the same abuse and cruel punishment the baby had to endure.
If all abusers had to suffer the same abuse they inflicted on their victims, I think it would put an end to abuse real fast.
One could only hope.......
Ahhh This sickens me. Let the father out so the public(including me) can beat sh** out of him until he's dead.
What is wrong with these young people, killing children, this is the most disgusting act of an adult. A 2 year old child is innocent and has complete trust in everyone, and then for an adult to murder this child, and another adult stand by and do nothing to protect this little person. These sentences are just not long enough for these kind of crimes.
Hey mlind2020 & the rest of you commentators, I'm guessing you people believe everything you hear & everything you read? You have already convicted this man without any of the facts of this case. He hasn't even had his day in court yet. Screw it he doesn't need to be proven guilty, when we have judges, jury's & executioner's out there like you people!! Believe it or not some people have been wrongfully accused and real evidence has proved their innocence. If this makes you commentator's mad for what I'm saying to you, that's not my intension but either way You know I'm right!! I know the facts about this case & Both parents are very good parents. Believe it or not, This was a tragic accident, sad but true. You all will see one day!
See here is a perfect example of how the news media only give's us part of the story, Yes the 3 year old child did say that about the hammer, but what they left out is the County Coroner ruled out the hammer to be used on this boy. There are two people that know 100% who hurt this little boy. The little boy & the one that hit him in his stomach & she is going right along with what her lawyer's told her to say. She not only has to live the rest of her life Knowing what she has done to Zander, Which was a tragic accident & could be forgiven for that but now she is going to fry the INNOCENT FATHER for something she did. Now that can't be forgiven. Brandi needs to tell the TRUTH, The whole TRUTH to end all of this & let this man get his kids back. Richard Martino Fought harder for those kids more than any other fathers I've ever seen. Richard never laid a hand on any of these kids, for any reason. Brandi did, JUST ONCE & she's afraid to admit it. I wander how she sleeps at night?