Woman Arrested, Charged with Stepson’s Murder

MT. VERNON — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Mount Vernon Police Department, assisted by the Texas Rangers, are investigating the murder of a 6-year-old boy — reportedly at the hands of his stepmother. KETK reports Wesley Benjamin “Ben” Roycroft was killed at the Logan’s Pointe Apartments on Whitten Drive in Mount Vernon. Suspect Christie Lynn Roycroft, 30, was taken into custody at the scene by responding officers and placed in the Franklin County Jail on $2.5 million bond on a capital murder charge.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around 11:40 Thursday morning from a woman at the residence claiming to be Benjamin’s mother. Responding officers were met by the stepmother in the front walkway of the apartment, where she was immediately detained. Officers then secured the residence and found the victim inside. No one else was home at the time. Child Protective Services was contacted and is said to be cooperating in the investigation. CPS, upon examination of its records, advised that it has no prior history of abuse or neglect involving this family.

The victim has been taken to the Southwest Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas. Means and manner of death are being withheld at this time, and officials say they will be released following the official autopsy report. Benjamin Roycroft was a student at Mount Vernon Elementary School, which has been apprised of the situation. Counselors will be made available when students return on Tuesday.