A Texas woman, 31-year-old Kapri Cheatom, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the ab**e and death of her 12-year-old stepson, Danilo Coles. On May 11, 2026, Cheatom was sentenced after pleading guilty to first-degree injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, the maximum sentence allowed as part of her plea deal.
The Tragic Events Leading to Danilo Coles’ Death
On February 6, 2022, authorities responded to a call about a child who had reportedly fallen in the shower. When they arrived, they found Danilo Coles with severe injuries that did not match the story provided by his father, Derrick Coles, and stepmother, Cheatom.
At the hospital, medical staff discovered signs of ab**e, including internal bleeding, whipping marks, and severe injuries to Coles’ buttocks. The child was pronounced brain-dead and passed away that same day.
A Pattern of Ab**e
Investigators later learned that Coles had recently moved in with his father and stepmother after being removed from his mother’s custody due to allegations of ab**e.
Cheatom admitted during questioning that she and her husband had punished Coles by physically beating him, hitting him with a belt, and forcing him to hold heavy boxes above his head for extended periods. If Coles was unable to lift the boxes, he was forced to do push-ups.
Further details from the investigation revealed that Cheatom forced Coles to write the phrase “I will obey all people in the household” repeatedly as part of his punishment. The medical examiner concluded that Coles’ cause of death was toxicity from overexercising, and the manner of death was ruled as homicide.
Delays in Indictment and Legal Proceedings
Initially, Cheatom’s charges were dismissed three months after Coles’ death due to a technicality. Texas law mandates that an indictment must be filed within 90 days of an arrest, and because of delays in receiving the final autopsy report, the case could not proceed.
After the issue was identified, the case was re-opened, and in September 2023, Cheatom and her husband, Derrick Coles, were indicted on charges related to the ab**e.
Derrick Coles’ Sentence
Derrick Coles, Danilo’s father, was sentenced to 45 years in prison on October 20, 2025, after being convicted of multiple felony charges, including first-degree injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury.
Sentencing and Impact
During Cheatom’s sentencing, Judge Joel Perez emphasized the severity of the injuries inflicted on Danilo, stating, “The injuries to this child are too extensive to not have noticed, to not have known, to not have done something about it. You failed to protect this 12-year-old boy.”
Cheatom will receive credit for time already served and is eligible for parole after serving half of her 20-year sentence.
