Mother’s Boyfriend Charged After 2-year-old Dies from Injuries Linked to ‘Wrestling Moves’

May 24, 2017

• The Case of Adelaide May Chaney, 2
• Suspects Richard Gamache Jr. & Cheyenne A. Cook

House Springs, MO – Authorities in Jefferson County have charged a young mother and her boyfriend following the death of 2-year-old Adelaide May Chaney, whose injuries investigators say were the result of repeated physical abuse rather than an accidental fall.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office announced charges against Richard Gamache Jr., 24, and Cheyenne A. Cook, 19, following an investigation into the death of Adelaide May Chaney.

Investigators allege that Gamache repeatedly subjected the toddler to dangerous “wrestling moves” he had seen on television, causing injuries that ultimately proved fatal.

According to investigators, Adelaide suffered significant traumatic injuries that resulted in seizures before she was transported for emergency medical treatment. She died three days later.

The investigation also uncovered what the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office described as “digital data documenting the abuse,” along with conversations discussing efforts to conceal what had occurred.

Court documents state that Gamache and Cook had been living together for only six days before Adelaide was taken to the hospital on May 16. Gamache, a barge worker who reportedly spends extended periods working out of state, initially denied knowing how the child sustained her injuries.

As investigators examined electronic evidence, detectives discovered text messages sent by Gamache to Cook, including a photograph showing what court documents described as “significant bruising along the left side of the victim’s face and forehead area” on May 13.

According to court records, Gamache admitted in the message that he had caused the injuries by “playing too rough” with the child.

One of the messages read:

“It’s insane how rough I am with her.”

During questioning, Gamache acknowledged that he had played roughly with Adelaide on multiple occasions and believed he had caused many of the bruises found on her body.

According to court documents, Gamache described performing various professional wrestling moves on the two-year-old during interviews with detectives.

He further acknowledged that:

“it was possible the victim may have sustained some type of head injury” during one wrestling maneuver that involved striking her head against a concrete wall near his bed.

Investigators also interviewed Cook, who told police she personally witnessed Gamache perform at least two “Batista bomb” wrestling moves on her daughter during the six days they lived together.

On May 16, Cook reported that she left for work while leaving Adelaide in Gamache’s care.

According to court documents, investigators learned that Cook refused to allow anyone else to care for her daughter because she feared they would report the child’s visible injuries to authorities.

She also told detectives that during her relationship with Gamache, Adelaide had become “clingy,” wanted to sleep frequently, and had stopped eating and drinking normally.

The investigation began on May 16 after emergency responders were dispatched to the family’s residence in House Springs to assist with a medical emergency involving the toddler.

Adelaide was transported for treatment but died three days later from her injuries.

Following the investigation, authorities concluded that the wrestling maneuvers described by Gamache were believed to have caused the injuries that led to the child’s death.

Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak condemned the circumstances surrounding the case, stating the child had been essentially tortured through the ongoing abuse by Gamache and her mother’s failure to intervene.

Charges

Richard Gamache Jr.

• Abuse or Neglect of a Child

Cheyenne A. Cook

• Second-Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child

SENTENCING UPDATE – February 19, 2020

Richard E. Gamache Jr. has been sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 10 years for the May 2017 death of 2-year-old Adelaide May Chaney.

During the proceedings, Richard E. Gamache Jr. admitted that he had played roughly with Adelaide, including performing professional wrestling moves on the toddler. Medical experts testified that Adelaide suffered bruises of varying sizes and stages of healing across her body, along with catastrophic head injuries.

On October 22, 2019 Richard E. Gamache Jr. pleaded guilty to the following offenses:

Sentencing

• Life imprisonment for abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death.
• 10 years imprisonment for abuse or neglect of a child causing serious physical injury.
• The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.

Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Brenda Stacey emphasized the severity of the crimes while imposing sentence.

“You tortured a little girl to death.”

The court ordered that even if Richard E. Gamache Jr. is granted parole on the life sentence, he must still serve the consecutive 10-year sentence.

Throughout the approximately 90-minute sentencing hearing at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Hillsboro, Richard E. Gamache Jr. showed little visible emotion.

The court heard emotional victim impact statements from Cheyenne A. Cook, Adelaide’s mother, as well as her grandparents, Sandra Boyce and Jim Boyce.

Sandra Boyce repeatedly described Richard E. Gamache Jr.’s actions as “cowardly” and spoke about the lasting impact on the family, particularly Adelaide’s brother.

“Addie was a gift, a gift of life. When you took Addie from us, you took everyone’s normal life. Our grief is forever.”

Cook’s stepfather Jim Boyce says that day Adelaide was airlifted to Children’s Hospital.

“They removed part of her skull to relieve pressure off of her. I didn’t get to see her until four in the morning and it looked like she was in a bar fight from head to toe,” Boyce said.

says Adelaide loved playing with her big brother.

“They kind of fight and they both have little crocodiles they fight over and I loved them dearly,” Boyce said. Boyce

He says Cook and Adelaide lived with him and his wife until six days prior to the incident, when she moved in with Gamache and his parents.

“It was my job to protect them and I kind of failed,” Boyce said.

Jim Boyce also addressed the court.

“I just don’t understand how a man can beat a 2-year-old baby.”

Turning to Judge Brenda Stacey, he added:

“I hope you don’t show leniency to him.”

Cheyenne A. Cook told the court that she continues to struggle with the loss of her daughter and said she has required medication to treat depression since Adelaide’s death.

The court also noted that Cheyenne A. Cook had previously resolved her criminal case by pleading guilty in December 2017 to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. She received a suspended 365-day jail sentence and successfully completed probation on December 14, 2019.

During the sentencing hearing, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Travis Partney called two witnesses.

The first witness, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Micha Nelson, testified that the investigation began after staff at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis contacted law enforcement following Adelaide’s death on May 19, 2017.

Detective Micha Nelson testified that investigators recovered text messages from Richard E. Gamache Jr.’s phone in which he expressed hatred toward children. Investigators also discovered internet searches related to concealing injuries and managing rage.

The second witness, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Andy Sides, testified regarding Richard E. Gamache Jr.’s conduct while incarcerated. According to Capt. Andy Sides, jail records documented multiple incidents involving confrontational behavior toward correctional staff as well as bullying of fellow inmates.

During closing arguments, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Travis Partney urged the court to impose the maximum available sentence.

Referring to a letter submitted by Richard E. Gamache Jr., Travis Partney argued that the defendant was attempting to shift responsibility.

“This was all on him (Gamache).”

He continued:

“This is him paying for what he did to a 2-year-old girl.”

Defense attorney Daniel Diemer argued for a lesser sentence and compared the case to another child abuse case in the county in which the defendant received a 12-year prison sentence.

Following a brief recess, Judge Brenda Stacey returned to announce her decision.

Rejecting the claim that the abuse had been an isolated incident, she stated:

“This was not one time.”

She continued:

“Your text messages showed that you knew you had a problem.”

After sentencing, Daniel Diemer declined to comment.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Travis Partney said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the case.

“A brutal case deserves a brutal sentence.”

He added:

“That’s what this case dictates.”

Following the hearing, Jim Boyce said he believed justice had been served.

“I’m pretty satisfied. It’s never going to bring back my granddaughter, but (Gamache) is going to rot for 40 years and think about it.”

Under Missouri law, Richard E. Gamache Jr. must serve 30 years of the life sentence before becoming eligible for parole consideration. If parole is granted, he must then serve the consecutive 10-year sentence.

Sandra Boyce said the sentencing finally brought the family some measure of closure.

“After two years, seven months and 27 days, Adelaide finally had her day in court and (Gamache) is going to be going away for a long time.”