In the winter of 2012, a young girl's life was tragically cut short in Phoenix, Arizona. Two-year-old Savannah Kathryn Cross, a female, died on December 11, 2012, at the Maricopa Integrated Medical Hospital. Her death was the result of horrific abuse she endured at an unlicensed home daycare run by Allison Clement and Ryan Reed. Savannah's mother had left her in their care for extended periods.
The abuse Savannah suffered was extensive, with authorities noting bruises that were 'too many to count'. An autopsy later revealed the extent of her injuries and also found acute methamphetamine exposure. The investigation into her death, described as the most egregious case of child abuse and neglect in Arizona's history at the time, uncovered that Reed had stomped on the toddler's stomach. Clement, the other operator of the daycare, was found to have not intervened or reported the abuse. The case also revealed that Savannah had been sexually abused.
The legal proceedings that followed brought some measure of justice for Savannah. Ryan Reed and Allison Clement were arrested and ultimately pleaded guilty to their roles in her death. Reed pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, child abuse, and attempted child abuse. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison and will be on lifetime supervised probation upon release. Clement pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and three counts of attempted child abuse, receiving a 24-year prison sentence, also with lifetime supervised probation.
The profound loss of Savannah was deeply felt by her family. Her father, Stephen Cross, and grandmother, Cathy Cross, spoke of the immense pain and the irreplaceable void her death left in their lives. They remembered her as a giggly little girl with a big smile. Following the sentencing, her family expressed their gratitude that justice had been served for Savannah, allowing them to begin the process of moving forward while carrying her memory with them.
