Ricky Clark Jr. and Vivian Strong were a normal young couple who had a one-month-old baby boy named Caden Williams. They seemed to have a happy life until one day in February 2014, when everything changed. Ricky Clark Jr. was arrested and charged with the murder of his own son, who had suffered multiple injuries and died in the hospital. Vivian Strong was also charged as an accomplice in the crime. What happened to Ricky and Vivian? Where are they now? This article will explore the details of this shocking case and its aftermath.
The Crime
According to Vim Buzz, Ricky Clark Jr. was 20 years old at the time of the incident. He called 911 on February 13, 2014, and reported that his baby was not breathing. He said he had found him unresponsive on the couch and tried to perform CPR. When the paramedics arrived, they found Caden Williams with no pulse and rushed him to the hospital. However, it was too late to save him.
The doctors who examined Caden Williams discovered that he had suffered severe brain edema, retinal bleeding, a skull fracture, a spinal cord injury, and four rib fractures. They concluded that he had died from blunt force trauma to the head and chest. The police suspected that Ricky Clark Jr. had abused and killed his son while Vivian Strong was at work.
The Arrest
Ricky Clark Jr. was arrested on February 14, 2014, and charged with an open count of homicide. He denied any involvement in his son’s death and claimed that he had fallen off the couch accidentally. He also said that he had noticed some bruises on Caden Williams before but did not know how they got there.
Vivian Strong was also arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in death. She told the police that she had left Caden Williams with Ricky Clark Jr. while she went to work at a fast-food restaurant. She said she did not know that her boyfriend was hurting their son and that she loved him very much.
The Trial
Ricky Clark Jr. and Vivian Strong were tried separately for their roles in Caden Williams’ death. Ricky Clark Jr.’s trial began in June 2016 and lasted for two weeks. The prosecution presented evidence that showed that Ricky Clark Jr. had a history of violence and aggression. They also played recordings of his phone calls from jail, where he admitted to hitting Caden Williams several times and said he did not care if he died.
The defense argued that Ricky Clark Jr. was mentally ill and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder due to his abusive childhood. They also claimed that he had a low IQ and did not understand the consequences of his actions.
The jury deliberated for four hours and found Ricky Clark Jr. guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Vivian Strong’s trial began in October 2016 and lasted for three days. The prosecution argued that Vivian Strong knew or should have known that Ricky Clark Jr. was abusing their son and failed to protect him. They also presented evidence that showed that Vivian Strong had lied to the police about her whereabouts on the day of the crime.
The defense contended that Vivian Strong was a victim of domestic violence and coercion by Ricky Clark Jr. They also said that she was young and naive and did not realize how serious her son’s injuries were.
The jury deliberated for two hours and found Vivian Strong guilty of child abuse resulting in death but not guilty of first-degree murder. She was sentenced to 18 years in prison with five years of mandatory parole.
The Aftermath
Ricky Clark Jr. and Vivian Strong are currently serving their sentences in different prisons in Colorado. According to Fresherslive, they have not been released or granted any appeals.
Caden Williams’ death sparked outrage and sadness among the public and the media. Many people expressed their sympathy for the innocent baby who lost his life at the hands of his own parents.
According to sitename, Caden Williams’ grandparents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Ricky Clark Jr., Vivian Strong, and the Department of Human Services for failing to prevent the tragedy. They claimed that they had reported signs of abuse to the authorities but nothing was done to intervene.
The lawsuit was settled in 2018 for an undisclosed amount.