Suspect in toddler's killing expected to plead guilty in Staunton
STAUNTON — A suspect in the 2022 killing of a two-year-old girl is expected to plead guilty Tuesday in Staunton Circuit Court, according to court files.
The victim, Averianna May, 2, of Hinton, died after allegedly being beaten to death at a Staunton residence.
Christopher S. Hoover, 24, of Staunton, is charged with murder and child abuse. Police arrested Hoover on June 20, 2022, two days after the girl's death.
Hoover was reportedly watching the child, along with his own, at a residence in the 1700 block of Vincent Street in Staunton. He told police that after changing the toddler's diaper he went to get a juice box for the girl, who he said was standing on her bed. When he heard a noise, Hoover said he went to investigate and found her on the floor.
At a February preliminary hearing in Staunton Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, evidence showed the toddler was barely breathing and unresponsive when she was brought to the emergency room at Augusta Health in Fishersville shortly after midnight on June 18, 2022, the same day she died.
A doctor testified the toddler had significant head trauma, numerous bruises and markings, and bleeding on the brain. She was eventually flown to UVA Health in Charlottesville before dying from her injuries.
Hoover told a doctor the toddler fell off a bed that was about 3 1/2 to 4 feet high. However, at the preliminary hearing, the doctor noted the girl's injuries were more consistent with a major vehicle crash or a fall from a building, not a tumble from bed.
While investigating, police measured the child's bed and said the top of the mattress was less than 3-feet high from the floor, according to previous testimony.
A second doctor from UVA Health also noted during her testimony that there were multiple bruises found on the toddler. The doctor said the child had whiplash injuries consistent with being shaken, and said her brain was "completely swollen." The toddler also had "crush injuries" on her chest and suffered blows to the head, the doctor said.
In a portion of a recorded interview with police that was played in court back in February, Hoover claimed he blacked out but didn't recall being angry. "Obviously, I know I made a mess," he said on the recording.
Court records show Hoover is expected to enter guilty pleas Tuesday morning in Staunton Circuit Court, which will nix a scheduled two-day jury trial set to start Oct. 31.
The toddler was the daughter of Kirsten Lynn May of Hinton and River Scott May of Mount Sidney, according to her obituary.
Hoover remains at Middle River Regional Jail, where he has been held without bond since his arrest.
Correction: The victim and mother both should have been listed as being from Hinton, Virginia.
Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Suspect in toddler's killing expected to plead guilty in Staunton
