A New Mexico man who beat his 5-year-old daughter to death with a water shoe admitted he got mad at his daughter when she didn’t want to do her homework.
Brandon Reynolds, 36, told investigators his daughter Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau’s defiance “triggered” him to beat her from head-to-toe with his fists and the water shoe.
A water shoe is a waterproof shoe that is typically worn in wet environments.
Reynolds told police he “blacked out” as he was beating the girl. When he came to on Friday morning, he called 911, claiming she was in cardiac arrest.
According to CrimeOnline, medics observed the girl was unresponsive and covered in bruises in the shape of the water shoe. They also noticed dried blood on the floor of the Albuquerque, NM home.
Reynolds reportedly waited hours before he called 911.
Sarah’s grieving mother Chantel Dubois started a GoFundMe page that raised $1,450 of the $10,000 goal.
In a statement on the GoFundMe site Chantel explained that Sarah was autistic:
“Her dad refused to accept she was Autistic. Her father killed her because he could not deal with her autism. As sweet as my daughter was, as all children they have resistance it seems that is something her father was not able to deal with.”
Chantel said she lives in California with her 10-year-old son.
“I was hoping to have more time with her,” she wrote. “My heart just hurts so bad. I’m not even sure what else to say. I’m gonna miss my baby so much.”
Chantel begged for funds to travel from California to New Mexico. She said she planned to use the funds to pay for Uber, room and board and food for herself and her son.
Chantel said her family members are “irate” with her. “So if I want to keep my head together I am gonna need somewhere else to be other than with family.”
She concluded:
“Please help me to lay my baby to rest in peace. She didn’t deserve this. Giving her a proper burial is the least that can be done for her after such a tragedy. I miss her so much. I love you Sarah.”
