- Target:
- Dubuque, Iowa
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- www.facebook.com
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The family of a two-year-old Dubuque boy who died last November is opening up after learning a murder charge has been dropped against the only suspect.
Dubuque County prosecutors dropped a first degree murder charge against Nicholas Reed on Friday in the death of Bentley Randall, 2.
The court document said there’s no longer sufficient evidence to find Reed guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Although prosecutors have dropped the murder charge, Reed still faces child neglect and drug charges.
Police had said Reed was babysitting when the toddler suffered severe burns and head trauma. The child's mother and Reed were dating at the time. Police alleged Reed beat the child's head against a bathtub while he was babysitting.
Doctors had said the type of burns Bentley suffered were consistent with someone fully submerged in hot water.
Bentley’s family is speaking up about the case update. They're hurt, confused and upset. They said they wanted justice for Bentley. The family hopes by telling their story, that someone will be held accountable for a life lost too soon.
The Ingles family has been waiting nearly a year for news about Bentley Randall’s case. The news that came Friday wasn't what they expected.
"She told me that the murder charge just got dropped,” said Bentley’s Great Aunt Angela Ingles.
The man charged with the little boy's death is now free.
We the above signed respectfully ask Iowa State Attorney Tom Miller to assign a Special Prosecutor to look into the death of Bentley Randall and to convene a Grand Jury to listen to evidence in the death of Bentley Randall to determine if the evidence is sufficient to bring Nicolas Reed to trial for the murder of the child Bentley Randall.
The Justice 4 Bentley petition to Dubuque, Iowa was written by Justice 4 Bentley and is in the category Children's Rights at GoPetition.