Briella Waller
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CANDID ID: TX_23_2254
AGE
2   years
STATE
Texas
DATE OF DEATH
5/1/2023
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
SUMMARY OF DEATH
Briella Waller, a two-year-old girl in Killeen, Texas, was the victim of fatal child abuse. At the time of her death, her family was the subject of an open Child Protective Investigations case that had been initiated in September 2022 due to domestic violence in the home. On or around April 29, 2023, Briella was brought to McLane's Children's Hospital with multiple rib fractures and a head injury. She died approximately two days later (the fatality report states May 1, 2023, while the news article states May 2, 2023) from multiple blunt force injuries. An autopsy revealed a skull fracture and determined the cause of death to be multiple blunt force injuries to the brain. The investigation found that the child had been abused by both her mother and father through being hit with a belt and stick, spanked with a closed fist, pushed, and shaken. Ronald Vernon Legette was charged with Capital Murder and Portia Marquise Waller was charged with Injury to a Child with Intentional Injury.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The news article states that "the victim's abuse from their mother and father ranged from being hit with a belt and stick to being spanked with a closed fist, as well as being pushed and shaken." The fatality report states "Briella was found unresponsive, taken to a hospital, and was found to have multiple injuries. Briella died due to blunt force injuries." The news article further notes the child had "multiple rib fractures and a head injury" and an autopsy found "a skull fracture."

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

The news article explicitly states the child was subjected to "being pushed and shaken," and the autopsy found that "the cause of death was determined to be 'multiple blunt force injuries to the brain'" along with "a skull fracture" and "a head injury." The combination of shaking and traumatic brain injury is consistent with shaken baby/abusive head trauma.

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

The news article states that "the victim's abuse from their mother and father ranged from being hit with a belt and stick to being spanked with a closed fist, as well as being pushed and shaken." Ronald Vernon Legette was charged with Capital Murder. The article refers to him as the victim's "father," though it does not explicitly say "biological father." The differing last names (child: Waller, man: Legette) introduce some ambiguity, but the article's use of "father" rather than "boyfriend" or "stepfather" implies a biological relationship.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

The news article states that "the victim's abuse from their mother and father ranged from being hit with a belt and stick to being spanked with a closed fist, as well as being pushed and shaken." The mother is identified as Portia Marquise Waller, 30, who was charged with "Injury to a Child with Intentional Injury." The child shares the last name Waller, confirming the maternal relationship.

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

The fatality report states: "Briella was involved in an open Child Protective Investigations (CPI) case at the time of the fatality. The investigation was initiated on September 27, 2022 alleging that there was a domestic violence incident in the home while Briella and her siblings were present." This CPI investigation was opened approximately seven months before Briella's death, constituting a prior child protection report.

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

The news article states that "a complaint was issued that charged Ronald Vernon Legette with Capital Murder, as well as a complaint that charged Portia Marquise Waller, 30, with Injury to a Child with Intentional Injury." Legette was taken into custody and held on a $1.01 million bond. Waller "bonded out of jail on a $75,000 commercial bond."

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The fatality report states: "The investigation was initiated on September 27, 2022 alleging that there was a domestic violence incident in the home while Briella and her siblings were present."

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

The fatality report reveals a significant systemic concern: Briella was in an open CPI investigation at the time of her death, initiated on September 27, 2022 — approximately seven months before she died on May 1, 2023. The investigation was based on domestic violence allegations. Despite active CPS involvement during this period, the child suffered fatal blunt force injuries. This indicates that the child was known to the child protection system and was being investigated at the time of her death, raising questions about the adequacy of monitoring and intervention during the open investigation.

Lives Cut Short