MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – The mother of a New River Valley 2-year-old will spend the rest of her life in prison for sexual crimes committed against her son.
On Thursday morning, a judge handed down two life sentences for sexual crimes that Kayla Thomas committed against her 2-year-old son Steven Meek.
“She was supposed to protect that baby,” Thomas’ mother Melinda Chrisley said.
The details of the case are disturbing in nature and it was an emotional morning in the courtroom.
Thomas was found guilty in June of four felonies including forcible sodomy and object penetration, as well as producing and distributing child pornography.
“It’s very hard to deal with, still to this day, just trying to figure out how something like that could happen,” Thomas’ stepfather CJ Chrisley said.
Thomas’s then-boyfriend McKenize Hellman was found guilty of second-degree murder as well as other sexual abuse charges earlier this year. In August, he was sentenced to two life sentences plus an additional 90 years.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney for Montgomery County said Hellman and Thomas have had contact since they have both been incarcerated.
“To speak him and to actually want to communicate it’s... it’s horrible,” CJ Chrisley said.
During Thursday’s sentencing, unlike Hellman, Thomas apologized for the crimes she committed.
“I am deeply, deeply remorseful for what happened. I’d do anything to have my baby boy back. I’d give anything to do over and do right by my son,” said Thomas.
Several family members of the boy took the stand this morning talking about the impact of his death.
“I really hope that we can get justice for my son,” Steven Meek Sr. said.
But still, the family of Steven Meek says the damage can never be undone.
10 News has covered this case extensively. Read more from our coverage:
- Christiansburg man pleads guilty to second-degree murder, child abuse charges (Published July 26, 2021)
- Trial date set for Christiansburg man charged with murdering his girlfriend’s toddler son (Published June 24, 2021)
- Christiansburg mother found guilty of making child porn, sexually assaulting her 2-year-old son (Published June 9, 2021)
- Christiansburg man found guilty of sexually abusing girlfriend’s toddler son (Published March 15, 2021)
- Court date set for Christiansburg mother charged with making child porn, sexually assaulting her son (Published Aug. 20, 2020)
- Court date set for Christiansburg man accused of killing girlfriend’s toddler son (Published June 22, 2020)
- Christiansburg man accused of killing girlfriend’s toddler son indicted on 6 felony charges (Published Jan. 28, 2020)
- Hearing reveals alleged abuse New River Valley toddler faced before his death (Published Dec. 20, 2019)
- Christiansburg man accused of killing girlfriend’s toddler son deemed fit to stand trial (Published Oct. 25, 2019)
- Christiansburg mother charged in connection with toddler’s death expected to enter a plea (Published Oct. 16, 2019)
- Case continued for Christiansburg mother charged with sexually abusing her now-dead toddler (Published June 19, 2019)
- Mental evaluation ordered for Christiansburg man accused of killing his girlfriend’s toddler son (Published June. 3, 2019)
- Christiansburg man accused of killing toddler asks for sanity, competency evaluation (Published May 30, 2019)
- Christiansburg mother, boyfriend who police say sexually abused her 2-year-old son appear in court (Published Feb. 28, 2019)
- Boyfriend charged with murder, he and mother sexually abused 2-year-old, police say (Published Jan. 18, 2019)
- Mother of 2-year-old who died charged with making child porn, sexually assaulting children (Published Jan. 17, 2019)
- 2-year-old boy dies, Christiansburg man now faces child abuse charge (Published Jan. 14, 2019)