Josh Stepp, Stepfather, Sexually Assaulted and Beat Cheyenne Emery Yarley To Death, Sentenced To Life In Prison With No Parole

I check on a regular basis for updates on this case and there have been none. I keep looking.

Prosecutors announced Thursday that they plan to seek the death penalty against a Raleigh man charged in the beating death of his 10-month-old stepdaughter.

Joshua Andrew Stepp, of 1223 Silver Sage Drive, Apt. 303, faces first-degree murder and first-degree sex offense charges in the Nov. 8 death of Cheyenne Emery Yarley.

Stepp told a dispatcher in a 911 call that the child choked on toilet paper, but an autopsy report found she died of "abusive head trauma."

The report also indicates that paramedics and emergency room personnel at WakeMed in Raleigh found injuries to the child's right ear, face, vagina and anus.

A trial date for Stepp hasn't been set.http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/7804531/

Wake County prosecutors said Thursday that they plan to seek the death penalty against a man accused of sexually assaulting and killing his 10-month-old stepdaughter.

In a status hearing Thursday, prosecutors told Judge Ronald Stephens that investigators thought the infant had been on the floor with her head pushed into the carpet.

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I can't believe there is such limited information on this case. Again, why no trial date? Would this case not be considered a priority?

Mariah is in good hands and is being well cared for. She has been since this happened. She has no contact with Brittany, nor will she.
There is no right to a speedy trial in North Carolina so anyone charged with a crime can remain in jail indefinitely until such time as a trial date is set, which is dependant on discovery issues and other investigatory procedures. Theoretically, a subject can be in jail for over a year before going to trial. And, just because someone is CHARGED with a crime does not mean they are guilty.

asbath I am happy to hear about Mariah. Thank you for letting us know. Welcome to Victims Heartland.

Mariah's privacy is to be protected. I just wanted those who knew her to know that she is fine.

Thanks for taking the time to provide an update asbath. I am happy to hear that she is doing well.

I have been watching for information regarding this case, and this site has been awesome in giving the perspective of the mother. I really don't understand how anyone can still be assuming that J. Stepp is anything but what an evil POS he is. The *autopsy* indicates that the little girl was sexually assaulted and there is no way that the damage can be mistaken nor can DNA evidence be misconstrued.

I pray that the little girl is now in a better place. I cannot imagine what kind of life she may have had -- abused by the step-father, unprotected by the mother -- it is too sad.

Again, awesome site. Came across it when doing my research for my writing.

Sammytiel, Welcome to VH and for your compliment. We aim to please and at the same time, try to keep abreast on the latest cases.

Your second para speaks VOLUMES.

Sammytiel welcome to Victims Heartland

Thank you for the warm welcomes.

Does anyone know why this case is taking so long to get to trial? Or is this a usual length of time given the nature of the crime?

Also, about the toilet paper. I don't think I've seen it suggested before, but I think I know how it may have got there, and please forgive me for being graphic, but I think he shoved it in her mouth before he did the assault to keep her quiet. *If* they found toilet tissue, then that is the likeliest scenario.

It just breaks my heart -- I cannot understand how anyone can do such things to babies -- or for that matter, children or adults. It takes a different type of brain than the one I've got to wrap itself around that kind of action.

And, is it me or are there more and more stories like this in the news lately? Poor Cheyenne is not alone.

Sammytiel, I agree about the toilet paper. How sick and sad at the same time.

Regarding your question about why it's taking so long, I found this response upthread:

There is no right to a speedy trial in North Carolina so anyone charged with a crime can remain in jail indefinitely until such time as a trial date is set, which is dependant on discovery issues and other investigatory procedures. Theoretically, a subject can be in jail for over a year before going to trial. And, just because someone is CHARGED with a crime does not mean they are guilty.

I think Stepp was trying to wipe 'EVIDENCE' out of Cheyenne's mouth and toilet paper got stuck in her throat and choked her. Stepp needs to be put locked up for life and Cheyenne's mother should be in a cell right next to him. How could she let this happen to her baby?

Brittany has added some new tattoos since her daughter was murdered.








I wonder if this is a new boyfriend?

I just found this thread & am horrified to hear of another rape & murder of an innocent child! My heart breaks for the child who was tortured & killed, but I have very little sympathy for the mother. She allowed this "monster" to care for her precious child & therefore she is partly to blame for her death!

Unfortunately, the majority of these sad stories involve young single mothers who are naive & desperate, and their children are the casualties. My advice to any young single mother: DON'T LET ANY MAN CARE FOR YOUR CHILD ALONE!! I truly believe that ANY man is capable of these crimes, and shouldn't be left alone with your precious child. If you have no other option, go to a church & find out if there are older women who would be willing to help out (they may even be willing to do it for free). I hate to sound paranoid, but after reading one too many of these horror stories... I guess I am!! It's time to STOP THE INSANITY!!!

When I said that I truly believe that any man is capable of these crimes, I mean it! My parents were good friends with a minister & his wife - they had four daughters. Years later, it came out that he had sexually molested all of his daughters over the years. He is now in prison!

Cheyenne was murdered almost a year ago. I'm unable to find anything about a date for Josh's trial. The photos came from Cheyenne's mothers Myspace before she made it private a few months ago. The mother did see this thread before it was put in Members Only.

It doesn't matter what station in life........minister, businessman, scout leader, teacher, rich, poor.... Even Miss America, Marilyn Van Derbur, was molested by a "wonderful man" who was her father. Her mother said Marilyn was making it up when she (in her 40s) finally told her mother.

It has to stop!