Jeremiah Regis: Mother's partner admits brutal murder of Wednesfield boy aged just two-and-a-half
A brutal thug today admitted murdering youngster Jeremiah Regis-Ngawah, who was beaten to death at his home in Wednesfield
The child, who was just two-and-a-half, was left with a fractured skull and ribs, injuries to his arms and legs, and a bite mark to his chest.
Chevaze Sanchez McGregor, who was Jeremiah's mother's partner and lived with him on Wednesfield High Street, was said to have used 'physical chastisement' to ‘toughen children up’.
Jeremiah was said to have 'whimpered' when McGregor was around, and there was evidence that the youngster had tried to defend himself from previous attacks.
He used his fists, a belt and a rod to discipline the youngster and three other children, police said.
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Jeremiah was left with more than 100 injuries, and police today described his killer as 'controlling, manipulative and violent'
Today, McGregor appeared at Birmingham Crown Court and admitted murder after previously denying the offence.
The youngster's mother, Sindyann Laverne Regis, 26, had already admitted allowing the death of her son.
Jeremiah died from peritonitis after suffering a traumatic blow to his stomach inflicted by McGregor, 30.
Today West Midlands Police said the youngster had suffered at McGregor's hands since he renewed a relationship with his mother in 2016, when she moved to Wolverhampton from London.
Jeremiah was rushed to hospital on November 20 last year after collapsing at his home.
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West Midlands Police said: "His mother knocked on neighbours’ doors at the flats where she lived claiming her son was unwell and had been sick.
"An ambulance was called and McGregor went to hospital with Jeremiah claiming to be his stepdad, with Regis following later.
"Despite frantic efforts by medical staff, Jeremiah was pronounced dead.
"Doctors who examined the toddler became suspicious of the injuries and other marks covering his body and police were called."
Det Insp Warren Hines, from the force’s homicide team, said: “The death of one so young is always tragic, but it’s horrifying to think of the amount of violence and suffering this child must have endured in the hands of someone he should have been able to trust.
“McGregor was a controlling, manipulative and violent individual.
"He believed in chastising children physically and used a belt, a rod and his fists to cause the terrible injuries to Jeremiah.
“We believe the fatal assault was inflicted a couple of days before and Jeremiah was left in agony until he succumbed to peritonitis. Evidence shows that Jeremiah had defensive wounds to his hands and arms, which shows he tried to shield himself from the beatings.”
DI Hines added: “Evidence shows McGregor was prone to bouts of extreme loss of temper. Sindyann must have known what was happening, we have been told Jeremiah whimpered when McGregor was around and yet she allowed him sole charge and discipline of the toddler.
“Parents are duty bound to care for children and to nurture them into adulthood. The home should be a sanctuary of safety, reassurance and happiness, not a place where they are brutalised and beaten. Jeremiah must have spent his short life absolutely terrified.”
McGregor and Regis will be sentenced on June 23 and have been remanded in custody.
