Veralee Marie Craft

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Craft Veralee's biological father had been trying without success to visit his daughter for about three months since Chelsey started dating Preston. Police had been called twice by Jonathan to do a welfare check on Veralee, in one month. During on visit to the home, an office actually saw Veralee and reported that there were no visible signs of abuse and she seemed to be okay. During the second visit, Police were told that Veralee was not in the home, she was off visiting family members so there was no contact with her during that visit. After the second visit by Police, a protective order was taken out against Jonathan.

 

 Preston King was taking care of his girlfriend's 13 month old daughter Veralee when she was rushed to the hospital with severe head trauma. King originally told police that Veralee had fallen in his workshop while he was fixing a fan.  After Veralee's body was examined, at least three forensic experts determined she had broken bones all over her body and sustained blunt force trauma to her head. Doctors believe she was beat on the top of the head and punched in the face, resulting in skull fractures. They say she was also severely shaken. Both of Veralee’s legs were broken just below the knees in a separate incident. In a third incident, the child's arm and shoulder were broken. These injuries occurred between two and three weeks before this latest incident. 

 

Preston King was indicted on a capital murder charge, aggravated malicious wounding, child abuse and child neglect. Preston plead guilty to first degree murder in an attempt to avoid the death penalty. Preston was sentenced to 60 years in prison with 28 years suspended.