The tragedy that caused outrage across the United States took place last month in the town of De Soto. The police received an emergency call about domestic violence around 11 p.m.
When law enforcement officers, including a sheriff’s deputy, entered the house, they found 31-year-old mother Deborah Snider unconscious, while her son Leland had severe head injuries after being hit with a baseball bat, the Daily Mail server described the situation.
Both were transported to the hospital by the helicopter of the medical rescue service. The boy died there after four days, while the mother is still fighting for her life.
“It only happened because he was trying to protect his mother,” Leland’s devastated great-aunt said, according to The Journal Star. “It took a lot of courage for him to stand up for his mom in a situation like that. I wish he hadn’t, but he did,” she added.
Last week, Leland was buried in Nebraska, where his biological father and other relatives live. Due to her condition, the mother could not attend the last farewell to her son.
“The Last Heroic Act”
The family said they had given consent for the boy to donate his organs for transplant as his “last act of heroism”.
The violent offender, 36-year-old Marcus Moultrie, was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, with both crimes being committed in an “extraordinarily brutal manner.”
Moultrie, who ended up in custody, pleaded not guilty to both charges. His trial will begin in July.
The boy’s mother’s sister, Abigayle Snider, has since launched an online fundraiser so the family can pay for Leland’s funeral and hospital bills. “All funds raised above the funeral costs will be used to support Leland’s siblings and to pay for Deborah’s recovery,” she assured.
As of June 4, the family had collected almost 30,200 dollars (631,180 CZK) from 369 donors. One anonymous donor contributed five thousand dollars (104,500 CZK).
