Stepmother of 12-year-old forced to do 'military-style' push-ups until he collapsed learns her fate after boy's dad was sentenced

The stepmother of a Texas lad who was forced to bash push-ups until his muscles broke down was sentenced to situation for her relation successful the boy's death.

Kapri Cheatom, 31, pleaded guilty to wounded to a child causing superior bodily wounded and was sentenced to 20 years successful situation connected Monday. The sentencing came much than 4 years aft 12-year-old Danilo Coles, Cheatom's stepson, was recovered unresponsive by constabulary astatine the family's location successful San Antonio, Texas, connected Feb. 6, 2022. His father, 35-year-old Derrick Coles, told constabulary that the lad fell successful the shower.

When Danilo arrived astatine the hospital, helium was pronounced encephalon dead. Medical unit said helium was covered successful injuries that indicated thing acold worse had happened.

According to an apprehension affidavit obtained by section CBS affiliate KEYE, medical unit said Danilo had "whipping marks" connected his torso and legs, interior bleeding successful his stomach, and injuries to his buttocks that were truthful terrible that his tegument was coming off.

Police said connected the time Danilo was brought to the hospital, Coles disciplined his lad by making him clasp a 50-pound container of h2o bottles. Danilo could not clasp the box, and Coles yet forced the lad to bash "military-style" pushups for astir 4 hours. According to reporting connected the affidavit by The San Antonio Express-News, some Coles and Cheatom made Danilo bash push-ups until helium collapsed. They besides deed the lad with a belt.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled that Danilo's origin of decease was rhabdomyolysis, a information caused erstwhile musculus tissues interruption down, releasing toxic chemicals into the bloodstream, and past yet origin organ failure. An exigency doc who testified astatine Coles' proceedings said the information was lone fatal successful utmost circumstances.

Coles was recovered blameworthy successful October 2025 of wounded to a kid causing superior bodily wounded and sentenced to 45 years successful prison.

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According to courtroom reporting by section ABC affiliate KSAT, Cheatom's defence lawyer said her lone transgression was not stopping the maltreatment toward Danilo. Prosecutors argued that she participated successful it, saying she admitted to "striking him 5 times."

The justice addressed Cheatom astatine the hearing, telling her, "You failed to support this 12-year-old boy."

Cheatom was sentenced to 20 years successful prison, the maximum sentence, with recognition for clip served. She volition beryllium eligible for parole aft serving fractional her sentence.