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Wichita is in shock and horror as a father claims he is not guilty of the brutal abuse that killed his daughter
Reveals Months of Torture: The Hidden Daughters Suffered from Violence and Horrifying Mistreatment
The brutal mistreatment of 52-year-old Thomas Ross Gatewood to his two young daughters, which led to the death of 8-year-old Jeanetta Gatewood in May 2023, is the subject of a horrifying case that has rocked the town of Wichita. On Thursday, Thomas Ross Gatewood entered a plea of not guilty. The girls, who had been residing in the house since 2018, were subjected to months of torture, according to the prosecution, while being kept hidden from all neighbors. They had been living with Gatewood alone since May 2021. Gatewood prevented them from going to school or getting medical attention by invoking COVID-19 and fentanyl overdose, which made them fear the outside world. During a particularly vicious attack, Jeanetta received fatal injuries like a punctured heart, shattered bones, and substantial bruising. Her 9-year-old sister also sustained similar torture, including broken teeth and bones.
(PHOTO: The Wichita Beacon)
Gatewood’s Plea Agreement and Past Abuse Reveal the Severity of Family Violence, Leaving the Community in Disbelief
As a result of forcing his surviving daughter to lie to authorities about her sister’s death, Gatewood entered a plea deal that included charges of first-degree criminal murder, aggravated violence, kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child, and intimidating a witness. In the recent article stated in The Wichita Eagle, for the murder charge, the prosecution intends to suggest a sentence ranging from 25 years to life, with additional years for the other convictions. Gatewood’s history of abuse, which includes prior accusations against his wife in Oklahoma in 2009 and inquiries into the 2006 death of their infant son in Minnesota, highlights the seriousness of the situation and leaves the community reeling from the terrible effects of unrestrained family violence.
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