This is my 1st time doing a write up and my 3rd attempt at posting - HERE WE GO

Ruled a suicide, the death of 12 year old Sean Daughtery of Yorktown, VA has left those familiar with the case wondering how a seemingly happy straight-A student was found suspended lifelessly from his family’s backyard swingset.

Anyone who takes the time to read about this case will gain at least a sense of doubt about the authorities decision to rule this case suicide. Understandably, his family wants answers.

On his last day of life on April 14th, 2022, Sean arrived home from school and met his mother Ramona, his grandmother Vija, and his 2 year old brother. Sean's step father, Jared, was hours away doctor’s appointment with their 5 year old autistic son. Sean's older sister, Maria, was at school. According to the family, everyone was in high spirits having returned from a trip to Disney World the week prior.

Ramona was in a rush to take Vija to her own appointment and she hurriedly gave Sean instructions to watch over his 2 year old brother who was still napping. From the car, she called him and told him to be sure to complete his chores and homework. Sean reportedly happily agreed, he mentioned he was excited to play video games with his friends afterwards, and set off to do his homework. Sean submitted his assignment electronically at 3:09pm. The submission included a photo of him holding up his assignment. This would be the last photo seen of Sean still alive.

Sometime after Ramona left, Jared called her to tell her the 2 year old toddler would need to be woken up from his nap soon. He had been asleep for at least 2 hours and if he didn't wake up soon, it would be difficult to get him to sleep that night. Ramona called Sean to relay the message. Sean answered from the bathroom and, laughing, told his mom "I'm pooping!" They shared a laugh and Sean confirmed he would wake the toddler up.

Ramona called Sean a third and final time at 3:27pm. After rushing out the door and handing off last minute plans and a toddler to her son, she thought of a way to make the best of it. She suggested to Sean to set the toddler up with an iPad. This way, Sean could start playing his video games as soon as his chores were done. Sean eagerly obliged. First, he would get a snack, wake his brother up and situate the iPad, then all he had to do was finish his chores. Though that would be the last time any one from Sean's family heard from him, it was evident he was successful in at least grabbing a snack and starting his chores.

On Ramona’s way home from Vija’s appointment, she received a call from Maria. Sean was not answering the door. Ramona suggested Maria call her brother, advising that he was likely playing video games by now and might not have heard the door. Ramona remembers almost all the traffic lights being green on her journey home, all lights except for the very last one. As she sat at the red light, her stomach dropped when she saw an ambulance and firetruck turn down her homestreet.

According to Maria, Sean was found suspended from the swing set with a "shoe lace" type string. Covering his head was a motorcycle bag (Jared later confirmed the bag came from the family garage. The string found on Sean was originally part of the motorcycle bag). Confused, she noted how the string was found under his CHIN and not his neck. Maria was able to remove the string using just 3 fingers and by lifting the string over his head. Unable to rouse him, Maria called 911 at 4:54pm.

Before she reached the driveway, Ramona could see the commotion in her backyard. The ambulance and the firetruck lined the front of her house. In the backyard, Ramona found EMTs surrounding Sean and Maria screaming hysterically. After a brief moment of shock, she remembered her 2 year old and ran into the house to find him. First, she found a peach (one of Sean's favorite snacks) sitting in the bowl on the counter. Second, she noticed the empty trash bin and, nearby, two full trash bags, placed as if they were set to be taken out. Next to the trash bags were Sean's upturned shoes. Ramona noted Sean always wore his shoes - even in the house. When she found her youngest son, he was under a pile of clothing “limp and out of it” but otherwise unharmed.

Sean, on the other hand, was found with his hands strapped to his sides with a belt. The EMTs struggled to remove it and remarked how tightly the belt was wound around his body. His broken glasses were found nearby. His sister thought that with as poor as his eyesight was, he could not have seen well enough to navigate through the backyard AND hang himself from the swingset. His feet were bare, but clean, despite his legs being close enough to the ground to stand up if he wanted to.

Alarmingly, the police took no interest in the fact that Sean was dressed in clothing that did not belong to him. He was dressed in a man’s dress shirt instead of the red t-shirt he had on for his homework assignment submission.

Once Sean was taken to the hospital, Ramona was called in to pay her final respects. She noticed blood on Sean's hand and thought maybe that would lead to the assailant. It was then she noticed the dress shirt her son was clothed in belonged to her husband. Looking closer she also found her son was wearing her husband’s underwear. She reported this to a physician. Upon returning home, she found Sean's underwear on the floor of her bedroom. She also found an adult sized handprint in the kitchen on a window near the rear door.

The only "witness" to any events taking place inside the house was the 2 year old toddler. When asked about his day with Sean, the child responded, "A friend came over and was punching Sean," then made punching motions with his fists.

A landscaper working on a house neighboring the Daughteries responded in the negative when asked if he saw anything suspicious while working outside that day.

The authorities are treating this case as a suicide. The family is hoping a petition to get the FBI or VBI to reinvestigate this case will yield the answers. No matter the cause of death, the family begs for closure through a second investigation. They are currently working with LE to obtain a FOIA request. The family has a facebook page where they post updates. Both pages are accessible through a google search.

RIP Sean

Article

Edited to add step father's whereabouts

Edited to change DOD - corrected by FB page

Edited to add this link which has almost, if not all the same information given from the family's facebook page

Edited to clarify the motorcycle bag and family's desire to utilize FOIA

Edited to add quotations around the word "witness"