Crime

24-Year Sentence for Kyle Christopher in Tragic St. Croix Child Abuse Case

ST. CROIX — Kyle Christopher has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated child abuse and neglect, stemming from the death of 4-year old Aaron Benjamin. The young boy was found dead in his mother’s Lorraine Village housing community apartment on October 18, 2019, his small body bearing fresh and old bruises and bite marks.  At the time, the boy’s sister told police that Christopher habitually beat both children with a black stick, and Christopher admitted to beating the boy, causing him to fall and hit his head against a chair.  Charged with Aaron Benjamin’s murder, Christopher struck a plea agreement just days before his trial was set to begin, in which he pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse and neglect, in exchange for prosecutors agreeing to dismiss the five other counts against him, which in addition to murder included charges of aggravated assault and battery and third-degree assault. Under the terms of the deal, Christpher faced...