Christina White

Case details

Christina White was sentenced in Miller County, Missouri, for burning her baby to death. Judge Michael Cordonnier sentenced Christina Louise White to 25 years in prison, with the sentences allowed to run concurrent.

Timeline

• July 11, 2007 — Christina White allegedly set her baby’s blanket on fire and left 6-month-old Wayne Anderson Jr. in a crib to burn.
• June 23, 2007 — Iberia Police officers took emergency custody of Wayne Anderson Jr. and one of his sisters from the home of Walter and Charleana White.
• June 24, 2007 — A Children’s Division investigator found unacceptable the garage where Christina White and the children were living.
• June 25, 2007 — The lead investigator received a fax report from the Iberia Police Department about the night of June 23 stating: "The mother of the two young children (Christina White) arrived on scene and when asked why the children were here… she advised that the State of Illinois had taken custody of the four-year-old daughter and given it to her mother."
• July 16, 2007 — Christina L. White appeared before Judge Ken Oswald and faced four felony charges, including first-degree arson and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
• July 18, 2007 — Christina L. White made a second court appearance in Miller County, and Judge Kenneth Oswald set $250,000 bail.
• August 1, 2007 — Miller County Prosecutor Matt Howard charged Christina White with first-degree murder after Wayne Anderson Jr. died.
• September 20, 2007 — Christina White appeared for a preliminary hearing before Judge Kenneth Oswald and waived it; a $250,000 bond was set for each set of charges.
• October 16, 2007 — Christina White pleaded not guilty to first degree murder, arson, and three counts of child endangerment.
• May 31, 2012 — Christina White entered an Open Alford Plea of guilty to amended charges in front of Judge Michael Cordonnier.
• September 6, 2012 — Judge Michael Cordonnier sentenced Christina Louise White to 25 years in prison with sentences running concurrent.

The offence

Christina White allegedly set her baby’s blanket on fire and left Wayne Anderson Jr. in a crib to burn on July 11, 2007. Baby Wayne died weeks later on July 31, 2007, from the burns.

A witness said Christina White wrapped Baby Wayne in the blanket, lit it on fire, and left the room. The witness said White returned to the bedroom after the screaming and crying had subsided. Someone called 911, and when emergency responders arrived they found White outside standing in the street with Baby Wayne in her arms.

Investigation and background

After Iberia Police took emergency custody of Wayne Anderson Jr. and one of his sisters on June 23, 2007, officers found neglected conditions in the home of Walter and Charleana White, including piled trash, septic issues, pet feces, and a teenager seen smoking marijuana inside the home. During the same timeframe, a Chief Juvenile Officer of the 26th Judicial Court ordered the return of Baby Wayne to Christina White’s custody against the pleas of Iberia Police and against a recommendation from a Children’s Division investigator and her supervisor to take temporary foster custody until further investigation could be completed.

On June 24, 2007, the Children’s Division investigator found unacceptable the garage in which Christina White and the children were living. Children’s Division allowed Christina White and the children to move temporarily into a home with Christina White’s sister. On June 25, 2007, the lead investigator received the faxed statement from the Iberia Police Department quoted above.

The Children’s Division issued a statement after Baby Wayne’s death saying the agency had "limited involvement" with the White family prior to the burning incident. A spokeswoman for Children’s Division said policy would not have required contact with Illinois DCFS between June 23 and July 11, 2007, and she said no one indicated on June 23 that Christina White had a child abuse history.

A Children’s Division investigator’s own report from the night of June 23 included: "I informed Christina and Wayne Sr. it was concerning they found it acceptable to leave Wayne Jr. at their parents' residence in the condition it was in…. I further explained they could be charged with Failure to Protect because they left Wayne Jr. in an unhealthy and unsanitary environment.”

The report also described that a Children’s Division investigator remained connected to the case in the days that followed, inspecting Christina White’s temporary residence, driving her to appointments, and checking on the children. It stated that the investigator was in Christina White’s sister’s home where Baby Wayne was set on fire the day before the tragedy, while also stating that Children’s Division and the 26th Judicial Court did not communicate about the case between June 23 and July 11, 2007.

Chief Juvenile Officer Tammy Walden was quoted in 2007: "Everyone did everything they could, but a bad thing still happened," and "We just can't predict human behavior," was attributed to a spokeswoman for the Children’s Division.

Arrest and charges

Christina White was arrested on July 12, 2007.

On July 16, 2007, Christina L. White faced four felony charges described as first degree arson and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. She was later described as having confessed to setting the fire. The probable cause statement reported that White confessed to setting the fire and that she used a cigarette lighter to set fire to the blanket covering her baby as he slept in his crib.

On August 1, 2007, University hospital officials told reporters Wayne Anderson Jr. died after suffering from second- and third-degree burns over 60 percent of his body. Miller County Prosecutor Matt Howard charged White with first-degree murder immediately following the child’s death.

The case included child endangerment and arson allegations, and White was described as charged with murder, arson, and three counts of child endangerment at various points.

Trial and pleas

Preliminary and arraignment-related proceedings

Christina White waived a preliminary hearing before Judge Kenneth Oswald in a proceeding described as September 20, 2007. Her public defender, Keith Halcomb, maintained her innocence and said statements to police were coerced.

Halcomb made the following statements:

• "Ms. White is a person with severe psychiatric problems. She has twice been committed to mental hospitals and is very mentally fragile. Ms. White continues to maintain her innocence in this terrible case. She states she is innocent of all charges and any statement she may have given to police were coerced. Ms. White maintains that the police lied to her and made false promises in order to get statements from her. They told her that if she would just tell them the story -- the story the police wanted to hear -- that they would let her go. Any statements Ms. White made, she claims were coerced by the police, they are not actually true."
• "This is a terribly tragic case. By all accounts none of this would have happened if the Children's Division of Social Services had just done its job. Had the Children's Division done its job, Wayne Jr. would not have even been in the house the night that fire started and my client would not now be charged with murder."

Miller County Prosecutor Matt Howard responded in a quote attributed to him: "Well, I've not received any specific information about allegations of coercion by the police, and if that comes up we will review and respond to it."

A quote was attributed to Miller County Sheriff Bill Abbott: "and Miller County Sheriff Bill Abbott told me on the phone me he is positive the video tape recordings of the law enforcement interviews with Christina White will prove she was not coerced."

On October 16, 2007, Christina White pleaded not guilty to all charges including first degree murder, arson, and three counts of child endangerment. Judge William Hess would not allow cameras inside the courtroom for her arraignment. White’s public defender Keith Halcomb repeated that she was maintaining her innocence and that statements were coerced.

Open Alford plea and amended charges

On May 31, 2012, Christina White entered an Open Alford Plea of guilty to amended charges of second-degree murder, first-degree arson, and first-degree child endangerment. She told Judge Michael Cordonnier she had limited memories about the burning death of her son, but agreed that the evidence held by the State of Missouri was likely enough to warrant a conviction by a jury.

White was described as agreeing to enter the plea while noting that the State of Missouri held enough evidence to convict her of the charges. The plea agreement allowed the court, at sentencing, to allow Class A felony sentences of second-degree murder and first-degree arson to run concurrent, and it gave the court the option to determine if the Class C felony charge of first-degree child endangerment would run concurrent or consecutive with the other sentences.

The plea was also described as being subject to a plea agreement consolidating allegations of child endangerment involving three other children who were present in the home at the time of the fire.

Judge Cordonnier ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed before the sentencing hearing.

Sentencing

On September 6, 2012, Judge Michael Cordonnier sentenced Christina Louise White to 25 years for second-degree murder, 25 years for first-degree arson, and seven years for first-degree child endangerment.

Judge Cordonnier allowed all sentences to run concurrent. The sentencing was described as occurring at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6.

White was described as having already served five years in jail.

During sentencing, Judge Cordonnier explained reasons behind White’s actions and described factors including low mental capacity and bipolar disorder, and described the victim of sexual abuse, illegal drugs, and no employment. Judge Cordonnier was quoted as saying: "Three kids, no job, no home, no hope. These are reasons, not excuses,” and he was also quoted as expressing hope that White may find rehabilitation and education before being released from prison.

Outcome and subsequent developments

In connection with the death penalty pursuit, Miller County Prosecutor Matt Howard announced an intention to seek the death penalty. A ruling from the Missouri Supreme Court found White’s mental status met the definition of retardation, making her ineligible for lethal injection.

White’s next court appearances earlier in the case were described as including jury trial scheduling and later preliminary hearing and arraignment steps, but the record ultimately reflected a guilty plea and a 25-year prison sentence in 2012.

Other details

Christina White was described as being in custody since her arrest in July 2007 and as having limited memories about the burning death at the time of her May 31, 2012 court appearance.

Christina White’s parents were identified as Gayle and Water White. At sentencing, the record stated that her parents sat in the courtroom and it was the first time they had seen their daughter since her arrest in 2007.

In a separate proceeding referenced in the record, White’s parents were described as pleading guilty to three counts of child endangerment and receiving five years probation, but the record did not connect those outcomes to any appeal or reversal.