HELLISH DEATH
Huge new update in case of boy, 11, found dead in a storage bin after horrifying details emerge about his death
AN evil stepmother who starved and tortured an 11-year-old boy to death was confronted by his grieving relatives in court as she was jailed for at least 15 years.
Roman Lopez's emaciated body was dumped in a storage bin after he suffered months of sickening abuse including being locked in a box and having his water laced with poison.
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Lindsay Piper, 40, was sentenced on Friday after pleading no contest to a charge of second degree murder in Placerville, California.
Judge Vicki Ashworth said she “didn’t deserve to be [Roman’s] stepmother, quite frankly” and “the court can think of no more evil person than that.”
The judge added: “It’s truly appalling and horrific to know what this little boy went through at the hands of Piper.”
The wicked stepmom refused to look at Roman's paternal grandmother Jackie Farah as she shared memories of his short life.
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Jackie told the court Roman spent his first seven years with her before going to live with his dad Jordan Piper and stepmom Lindsay.
Now she feels guilty that she unknowingly “handed him over to the devil,” Jackie said.
She added: “I am so sorry for their entire family. Evil has to be held accountable.”
Roman's mother Rochelle Lopez died last April, around 15 months after her son, and is buried alongside him, .
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Rochelle's sister Lennox spoke on her behalf at the sentencing, remembering Roman as a “silly, kind, compassionate, and thoughtful 11-year-old boy whose life ended too soon.”
And she asked the court: “What kind of human tortures a child?”
The judge also heard from two of Lindsay's own teenage sons - who horrifically said they not only suffered abuse at her hands but also joined in the torture of their stepbrother Roman.
One boy said: “I never found the strength to tell the truth. Maybe if I would have, he would be alive.”
He said his mom told her children to lie about the abuse they suffered and took them out of school to avoid questions from teachers and social workers.
“Lindsay spent years telling lies,” the tearful boy said of his mother. “I hope you never get out.”
Emotionless killer
His brother choked back sobs of his own as he told his mom: “You sicken me.”
“Not just Roman, seven kids you abused,” he added.
Emotionless Piper refused to look in her sons' direction as they laid out the ways she tortured all seven kids in the household.
Little Roman was zip-tied with one hand in the air, and at other times was locked in a box or closet with no food.
The judge said Roman weighed just 42 pounds when he died — the same as when he was five years old.
Piper was also accused of mixing a poison in his drinking water.
His death shocked the tight-knit community in Placerville.
When Roman was reported missing in January 2020, neighbors spent the night knocking doors in a frantic search effort.
The next day they were heartbroken to learn police had found his body in a storage bin in the basement of the Piper family home.
He was severely malnourished and dehydrated, an autopsy found.
Over a year later, Lindsay and Jordan Piper were arrested on charges of child abuse, poisoning and torture.
Second-degree murder charges were added in October following evidence from other children living in the home.
They both denied all wrongdoing, but in May Lindsay pleaded no contest to the murder charge. The other counts were dismissed as part of the deal.
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She was sentenced to life and will be eligible for parole in 15 years.
Jordan Piper, 37, is in custody awaiting trial on separate charges of sexually exploiting a child.
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