Texas Father Sentenced to 45 Years for Brutally Beating 12-Year-Old Son to Death Over ‘Disrespect’
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — A Texas father has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for the horrific abuse and killing of his 12-year-old son, who was forced to write lines of “I will obey” and endure violent punishments that ultimately left him brain dead.
35-year-old Derrick Coles was convicted on four counts of first-degree injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury following the 2022 death of his son, Danilo Coles, at their home on Wurzbach Road in San Antonio.
Child Forced to Endure Hours of Punishment
According to court records and police reports, Coles forced his son to perform grueling exercises and carry 50-pound boxes for hours as punishment for being “disrespectful.”
On the day of his death, Coles and his wife, Kapri Cheatom, allegedly ordered the boy to wake up early and hold heavy boxes filled with water bottles as discipline. When he grew too weak to continue, he was told to do pushups and squats for several hours straight.
When Danilo could no longer move, Coles reportedly beat him with a belt as he lay curled in a fetal position.
“He was punished until his body gave out,” a detective testified during trial.
Investigators later found a notebook where Danilo had been made to write lines repeatedly, including:
“I will obey all people that live in the household.”
Child Found ‘Unresponsive’ After Hours of Abuse
On February 6, 2022, Coles called 911 claiming his son had “fallen in the shower.” First responders found the boy unresponsive and covered in bruises, with injuries inconsistent with a fall.
Doctors at University Hospital determined Danilo had no brain activity and severe internal bleeding, along with whipping marks, deep bruising, and peeling skin from his buttocks caused by repeated beatings.
He was pronounced dead that evening.
Medical Examiner Calls Death a Homicide
The Bexar County medical examiner ruled Danilo’s death a homicide, caused by “toxicity from over-exercising” and prolonged physical abuse.
Coles admitted to police that he had been “hard” on his son, claiming he was trying to discipline him after Danilo moved from Chicago to live with him.
He told investigators that the boy was “disrespectful” and had “caused problems” for the household, though he denied intending to kill him.
“He said he was trying to teach him obedience,” one detective said. “Instead, he tortured him to death.”
Stepmother Also Charged
Coles’ wife, 31-year-old Kapri Cheatom, was also arrested and charged with injury to a child resulting in serious bodily injury.
She allegedly admitted to helping enforce the punishments and forcing Danilo to hold the boxes for hours until his arms gave out. Her case remains pending.
Judge Condemns ‘Unimaginable Cruelty’
During sentencing, Judge Joel Perez called the case one of the most disturbing child abuse deaths he had seen, condemning Coles for showing “complete disregard for human life.”
“You turned what should have been a safe home into a torture chamber,” Perez said in court. “This boy’s final hours were filled with pain and humiliation.”
Coles will be eligible for parole after serving at least half of his 45-year sentence in a Texas state correctional facility.
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