In the quiet suburbs of Cincinnati, a criminal case in 2014 shocked the community and exposed the devastating consequences of heroin addiction.
According to Local 10 news, April Corcoran deliberately traded her 11-year-old daughter to her drug dealer in exchange for heroin.
The horrifying details of this true crime story revealed how drug dependency could lead a mother to commit the most unimaginable betrayal against her own child.
April Corcoran's bad choices not only destroyed her relationship with her daughter but also led to her conviction on multiple criminal charges.
Let's get into it.
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April Corcoran |
From February to June 2014, April Corcoran sexually traded her 11-year-old daughter to her drug dealer, Shandell Willingham, in exchange for heroin.
The disturbing encounters reportedly took place at Willingham's apartment in Camp Washington.
During these incidents, Willingham repeatedly sexually abused the child, like raping and forcing her to give him oral sex.
He also video-recorded these sexual assaults, creating documented evidence of the abuse.
According to criminal investigators, April Corcoran actively facilitated these crimes by arranging multiple meetings between Willingham and her daughter.
At each meeting, she ensured that Willingham was alone with the child.
Criminal investigations further revealed that after the sexual assaults, April Corcoran gave the girl heroin as a "reward."
However, medical evidence showed the child vomited each time she was drugged, according to Cincinnati News.
The abuse was premeditated and occurred on at least four separate occasions.
Court documents revealed the systematic nature of Corcoran's actions, showing she consciously traded her daughter's safety for heroin.
The crimes were ultimately discovered in June 2014 when the victim went to stay with her father and stepmother.
She eventually disclosed the abuse to her stepmother, triggering the criminal investigation that exposed the full extent of Corcoran's actions.
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Shandell Willingham |
April Corcoran's Trial and Sentencing
In June 2014, April Corcoran was formally charged with 27 felony counts, facing the potential of life in prison.
During the trial, more disturbing details about the case were revealed.
According to WLWT, April Corcoran made her daughter appear younger than 11 years old because that was "what her dealer liked."
She eventually pleaded guilty to multiple serious charges, including complicity in rape, human trafficking, and child endangering.
Judge Leslie Ghiz, a top-rated attorney in Ohio presided over the case, describing it as the worst she had encountered in her career at the time.
April Corcoran's defense attorney, James Bogen, attempted to link her actions to her opioid addiction.
Dr. Daniel Bebo, an expert witness, testified about the psychological impacts of heroin withdrawal.
However, he also confirmed that despite extreme addiction, individuals still fundamentally understand right from wrong.
The girl's grandparents provided victim impact statements, describing the profound trauma inflicted on the child.
Despite Corcoran's statement expressing shame and guilt on sentencing day, Judge Ghiz condemned April Corcoran's actions, noting the complete lack of genuine apology to her daughter.
On August 19, 2014, Corcoran was sentenced to 51 years to life in prison, a decision that reflected the severity of her crimes and the irreparable harm caused to her child.
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April Corcoran |
Aftermath Of April Corcoran's Crimes
April Corcoran's accomplice Shandell Willingham, was charged on 26 felony counts related to the sexual abuse.
At the time of the trial, he was already serving 24 years in an Indiana prison for unrelated drug and child pornography charges.
In the Hamilton County case, Judge Leslie Ghiz sentenced him to an additional 30 years.
The sentences were to be served concurrently with his existing Indiana prison term.
The most heartbreaking aspect of this case is the lifelong trauma inflicted on the young victim.
Her grandmother's words echo the profound pain: "I saw my granddaughter. I heard her small voice. It was horrific. How could she do this? I don't know if my granddaughter will be able to have a normal life."
Now living out of state with her father and stepmother, the girl continues to undergo medical care and struggles with the psychological aftermath of her abuse.
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