Court records reveal new information on 9 Chillicothe child abuse arrests

On November 28, 2024By Online Niel

CHILLICOTHE, Mo. (KCTV) – Court documents have revealed new information about nine arrests made in connection with three child abuse investigations in Chillicothe.

Livingston County, Missouri, Circuit Court records filed Tuesday, Nov. 26, revealed the circumstances surrounding nine arrests made in connection with three child abuse investigations.

In the first investigation, a probable cause statement filed by Chillicothe Police Department indicated that just after 1:55 p.m. on Nov. 22, the child of Christian A. Briegel, 31, of Chillicothe, arrived at department headquarters. He said his mother locked him out of the house and he didn’t answer.

At the time, investigators noted the temperature had dropped to 44 degrees and the child was without a coat, gloves or hat. The child reported that Briegel locked him out of the house while he was doing maintenance. When she finally let him back in, he didn’t even respond to threats to tell the police about the incident.

Law enforcement officials said the child detailed several instances of physical abuse. When Briegel was interviewed, she expressed several times that she wanted to Missouri Children’s Division would take custody of her child due to her inability to care for his various medical diagnoses.

Investigators noted that the child, who was prescribed medication for his diagnosis, had not been properly medicated for months. Several sources have confirmed this, including the child’s educators.

After several attempts by Children’s Services to schedule a meeting with Briegel and her son, Chillicothe Police reported none were successful. Briegel was taken into custody and charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

As of Wednesday, Nov. 27, she remains behind bars in Livingston County on a $2,500 bond. An initial appearance has been set for Monday, Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m.

In the second case, a probable cause statement filed by Chillicothe Police revealed that around 3:10 p.m. on Nov. 19, both Hannah M. Roney, 27, and Zachary A. Hamil, 31 , of Chillicothe, arrived at headquarters to report a case of child abuse. They claimed the incident happened while the child was in the care of a babysitter.

Law enforcement officials noted that the parents reported an incident that occurred around 2 p.m. that day and resulted in visible injuries to the child’s right eye. Both parents would have been at work and left the child in the care of the nanny.

Further investigation revealed that Hamil’s statements to the police did not match those he gave to a social worker Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. When the parents were informed of a safety plan, Hamil allegedly began threatening social workers.

Investigators indicated that both Roney and Hamil agreed to a computer voice stress analysis that revealed both were deceptive in their responses. A home inspection revealed conditions so severe that the inspecting officers suffered physical distress.

Law enforcement officials said a review of written statements by both Hamil and Roney indicated the babysitter was not at fault, but Hamil most likely was.

During an interview, Chillicothe Police noted that Hamil admitted to hitting the child in the face with enough force to make her fall and knock a toy off a shelf to hit her head. He admitted to falsely filing an affidavit accusing the babysitter of the incident.

As a result, Roney was taken into custody and charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. As of Wednesday, she remains behind bars on a $2,500 bond. Her initial appearance was set for 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2.

Hamil was also arrested and booked into the Livingston County Jail on three counts of child endangerment and one count of child abuse. As of Wednesday, he also remains behind bars with no bond listed. An initial appearance is also expected to take place at 9:30 a.m. on December 2.

In the third and final case, a probable cause statement filed by the Chillicothe Police Department indicated that around 7:45 p.m. on Nov. 15, law enforcement officers were called to Hedrick Medical Center with reports of an unresponsive juvenile.

Chillicothe police noted that the child had ingested a substance that was later found to be marijuana. Extensive medical treatment forced a transfer to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

The investigation revealed that the child’s parents, Jeanette I. Huston, 24, and Matthew R. Miller, 22, of Chillicothe, had left their three children in the care of Huston’s parents that day, William E. Gannan, 45 years, and Sherri L. . Gannan, 56, of Chillicothe.

However, at the time of the incident, all four adults were present, as well as Anthony J. Brown, 49, and Robert M. Harris, 69, of Chillicothe. During that time, William, Huston and Brown were found to have consumed marijuana with the children present.

Investigators said a search of the home turned up dangerous living conditions, as well as drugs, alcohol and tobacco within reach of the children. It also found that William and Brown were known sex offenders.

As a result, Huston, Miller, Brown, Harris and both Gannans were arrested and booked into the Livingston County Jail. All face three counts of child endangerment, but different bond conditions:

William Gannan – $5,000 bond
Huston – $1,500 bond
Miller – $2,500 bond
Brown – $5,000 bond
Harris – $1,500 bond
Sherri Gannan – No relation

Huston, Miller, Brown, Harris and William Gannan are expected to face initial appearances at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2. A hearing has not yet been set for Sherri Gannan.

No other information has been released.