KANSAS CITY, Mo. Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said Wednesday that he thinks a crime was committed against the 3-year-old son of Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, but he cant prove who did it.
So, Howe said, Hill wont face charges. Neither will Crystal Espinal, the boys mother.
In a news conference he called at the Johnson County courthouse in Olathe, Howe admitted he was frustrated.
A child has been hurt, Howe said. So, yes, as a prosecutor and a father of four kids, its frustrating you cant do anything about it.
Investigators could not determine who committed the crime, Howe said. He declined to comment further and would not say what crime his office thought occurred.
The prosecutor said he would rather let a guilty person go free than prosecute an innocent person.
The criminal investigation is over, but theres an ongoing child protection case involving the Kansas Department for Children and Families. The case centers around the safety of the little boy.
I know DCF is involved in this and Im going to let DCF handle this the way they do, which isnt in the public, Howe said. What I can assure the public is, hes safe.
News had surfaced in mid-March that Overland Park police took two reports at Hills Johnson County home, one for battery and the other for child abuse and neglect. The police reports, dated March 5 and March 14, both involved a juvenile.
At some point, a report also was made to the Kansas Department for Children and Families.
The Star reported last Thursday that Hills 3-year-old son recently was removed from the custody of Hill and his fiancee, Crystal Espinal. It isnt clear when the boy was removed, or who he is staying with now.
Sources have told The Star in recent weeks that Hill and Espinal have been working through a family court process called a child in need of care case. The couple was at the Johnson County courthouse Wednesday.
Generally, cases like this involve the Department for Children and Families and the county court. A judge and lawyers representing the parents and the child generally discuss and make decisions about the childs safety and care.
These cases can also result in a child being removed from a home.
Records obtained earlier this week show that the NFL requested documents from Overland Park Police on March 12 asking for any relevant information, including photos and 911 calls, regarding Hill, his fiancee and their young son as it relates to alleged injuries sustained by the couples minor child. The Star first reported the child abuse investigation into Hill on March 15.
