An Ohio man has been handed a life sentence without parole after admitting to the brutal killing of his ex-girlfriend and her 3-year-old son, a crime that shook Cincinnati and neighboring communities across the Ohio River.
Desean Brown, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and was sentenced Wednesday for the deaths of 29-year-old Nyteisha Lattimore and her son, Nylo. Prosecutors confirmed the death penalty was removed from consideration in exchange for Brown’s guilty plea.
According to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, Brown fatally stabbed Nyteisha 11 times in her Cincinnati apartment on December 5, 2020.
The following day, he wheeled young Nylo in a stroller to the Newport Southbank Bridge, known locally as the Purple People Bridge, and threw the child into the freezing Ohio River. Authorities revealed Nylo was still alive when he hit the icy waters. His body has never been recovered.
Prosecutors detailed that days later, Brown purchased a body bag on eBay. On December 11, 2020, he used an Uber to return to the bridge with Nyteisha’s remains. He then attempted to dispose of the bag by tossing it over the side. Instead, it became lodged on a ledge. A security guard discovered it the next day.
“Somebody threw a bag, like on the edge of the bridge and my curiosity got the best of me,” the guard told 911 dispatchers, according to WLWT. “So I got up there, knocked it down and it was heavy. It hit the ground. It’s like a body bag.”
Although prosecutors did not highlight a motive during sentencing, earlier hearings revealed Brown blamed Nyteisha after she suffered a miscarriage. Authorities said he carried out the murders as a form of retaliation.
The case drew significant public attention in 2022 when Nylo’s father lunged at Brown during a court appearance, underscoring the raw emotions surrounding the tragedy.
“What Brown did was ruthless, and this plea deal reflects that,” said Prosecutor Connie Pillich. “This sentence delivers justice for both Nyteisha and Nylo.”
Nyteisha’s father, Rodrick Lattimore, also spoke out after sentencing.
“I just want this guy to know that you had no right to put your hands on my daughter, to murder my daughter and my grandson the way you did,” he said. “What did you do to my grandson? When you go to that prison, you’re going to talk, and when you do, I’ll be waiting. I want to know what really happened to my grandson.”
Rodrick added that life imprisonment was the right punishment, insisting the death penalty would have been too lenient. “Go to where you need to go, go to hell,” he said. “That’s where you need to go, go to hell.”
