KEVIN EVES SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC BABY MURDER IN HIGH WYCOMBE AND BEDFORD
| Red Rose Database
High Wycombe Sexual Abuser
In a tragic and deeply disturbing case, Kevin Eves, a 37-year-old man from Coppice Farm Road in Penn, High Wycombe, has been found guilty of the murder of his eight-week-old daughter, Harper Denton. The conviction was handed down at the Central Criminal Court in London on Tuesday, following a comprehensive trial that revealed the horrifying details of the infant’s short life and the brutal injuries inflicted upon her.
The incident that led to Harper’s death occurred early in the morning of June 12, 2018. At approximately 6:05 am, emergency services were dispatched to an address in Wixams, Bedford, where Eves was residing at the time. The call was made after a report of an unresponsive baby girl who was not breathing. Paramedics arrived swiftly and transported Harper to Bedford Hospital, where medical staff attempted to resuscitate her. Despite their efforts, the young girl was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival.
Following her death, a detailed examination of Harper’s body was conducted. Three days later, the results revealed multiple fractures to her ribs, arms, legs, and feet. These injuries indicated a pattern of inflicted trauma, with some fractures of different ages, suggesting ongoing abuse. The injuries were particularly shocking given Harper’s age, as she was not yet mobile and could not have sustained such injuries through accidental means.
Kevin Eves was arrested on June 19, 2018, in connection with his daughter’s death. During police interviews, he denied any knowledge of how Harper had sustained her injuries. He was released on bail pending further investigation. The subsequent pathology report confirmed that the bruises and fractures were of varying ages, consistent with deliberate harm. Although the post-mortem examination did not definitively establish a cause of death, expert testimony during the trial indicated that the evidence was consistent with smothering.
Following these findings, Eves was formally charged with murder. His trial concluded with a majority verdict in his favor, and he was convicted of the heinous crime. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years before he can apply for parole. The sentencing took place on Wednesday, and the judge’s decision reflects the severity and brutality of the offense.
Detective Inspector Dani Bailey, representing the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, expressed her sentiments about the case. She described it as one of the most heartbreaking and emotive cases she has encountered. Inspector Bailey emphasized the profound impact on Harper’s mother and the community, highlighting the suffering Harper endured in her brief life at the hands of someone entrusted to protect her. She praised the efforts of the authorities in ensuring that Eves was held accountable for his actions and conveyed her hope that the sentence would serve as a strong message against such heinous crimes.
It was also revealed that Kevin Eves had a criminal history prior to this case. In 2006, while living in Bournemouth under his original name, Kevin Forbes, he was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to a two-year-old child. He received a nine-year prison sentence at Bournemouth Crown Court and was released in 2010. His case is currently under review by the Bedford Borough Safeguarding Children Board, with a Serious Case Review scheduled for publication later this month, aiming to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The incident that led to Harper’s death occurred early in the morning of June 12, 2018. At approximately 6:05 am, emergency services were dispatched to an address in Wixams, Bedford, where Eves was residing at the time. The call was made after a report of an unresponsive baby girl who was not breathing. Paramedics arrived swiftly and transported Harper to Bedford Hospital, where medical staff attempted to resuscitate her. Despite their efforts, the young girl was pronounced dead shortly after her arrival.
Following her death, a detailed examination of Harper’s body was conducted. Three days later, the results revealed multiple fractures to her ribs, arms, legs, and feet. These injuries indicated a pattern of inflicted trauma, with some fractures of different ages, suggesting ongoing abuse. The injuries were particularly shocking given Harper’s age, as she was not yet mobile and could not have sustained such injuries through accidental means.
Kevin Eves was arrested on June 19, 2018, in connection with his daughter’s death. During police interviews, he denied any knowledge of how Harper had sustained her injuries. He was released on bail pending further investigation. The subsequent pathology report confirmed that the bruises and fractures were of varying ages, consistent with deliberate harm. Although the post-mortem examination did not definitively establish a cause of death, expert testimony during the trial indicated that the evidence was consistent with smothering.
Following these findings, Eves was formally charged with murder. His trial concluded with a majority verdict in his favor, and he was convicted of the heinous crime. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years before he can apply for parole. The sentencing took place on Wednesday, and the judge’s decision reflects the severity and brutality of the offense.
Detective Inspector Dani Bailey, representing the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, expressed her sentiments about the case. She described it as one of the most heartbreaking and emotive cases she has encountered. Inspector Bailey emphasized the profound impact on Harper’s mother and the community, highlighting the suffering Harper endured in her brief life at the hands of someone entrusted to protect her. She praised the efforts of the authorities in ensuring that Eves was held accountable for his actions and conveyed her hope that the sentence would serve as a strong message against such heinous crimes.
It was also revealed that Kevin Eves had a criminal history prior to this case. In 2006, while living in Bournemouth under his original name, Kevin Forbes, he was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm to a two-year-old child. He received a nine-year prison sentence at Bournemouth Crown Court and was released in 2010. His case is currently under review by the Bedford Borough Safeguarding Children Board, with a Serious Case Review scheduled for publication later this month, aiming to prevent similar tragedies in the future.