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Home My WebLink About2015 02-20 Mother of child killed in Maplewood says she trusted boyfriend PIONEER PRESS . . . , . .- .. _ . . . . .. . . .. . . . . ._.�I Mother of child killed in Maplewood says she trusted boyfriend - TwinCities.com Page 1 of 3 Mother of child killed in Maplewood says she trusted boyfriend Updated:02/19/2015 07:31:09 AM CST FEB �� p15 TwinCities.com Mother of child killed in Maplewood says she trusted boyfriend • Feb 17: �� • In toddler's death, Maplewood man's bail set at $1.5 million � � � • Feb 15: � �� #� � • Toddler found beaten to death in Maplewood was a 'happy baby' , ` • Feb 13: � �,z� , � � �� " • Maplewood man fatally beat toddler he was baby-sitting, charges say �� -� �� -�� The mother of 17-month-old Genesis Xiong had always trusted her boyfriend. ..... Y...,...... `�t1�,r�GSyof So when Lia Lee and her other children had the flu, she said, she had Ramsey Caunty si,et�r��#a2;7:s Genesis stay at Leb Mike Meak's house in Maplewood. offree) "Now, I have no more baby here because of that trust," Lee said Wednesday. "I am still emotional, but I understand I have to keep strong and get things done for my baby girl so she can finally rest in peace." The Ramsey County attorney's office charged Meak, 35, with second-degree murder last week in Genesis' beating death. Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell said investigators are also looking into evidence that Meak sexually abused the girl. Lee said Wednesday she wants answers from Meak. "I will be in every single courtroom he will be going to," she said. "I want people to know that Genesis has not died in vain." Meak had been accused of violence in the past, something Lee said Wednesday she'd been unaware of. He was charged with choking a girlfriend in 2010 and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in the case. The charge was dismissed a year later after Meak met the conditions of his probation, which included undergoing domestic abuse eounseling and treatmer�t, according to a court record. Schnefl said Wednesday af litteak: "Granted, we did have involvem�nts with him in cas�s where ther� w�re acts of violenc� or allegati�ns of viol�nc�, bui ncathing to fihe extent in the present case." Lee starked dating Meak, whom she called "Mike," in August; she said they'd been friends for about five years. Meak was "very gentle, �uiet, stayed to himself," Lee said. She said Meak, who has his own children, believed in the importance of family. http://www.twincities.cornll�IewsBreakin�/ci_27551192/1VIotY�er-of-child9kill�d-in-Maple... 2/19/�Q 15 Mother of child killed in Maplewood says she trusted boyfriend- TwinCities.com Page 2 of 3 Lee has four other children -- a 2-year-old who is about 11 months older than Genesis, a 12- and 15-year-old, and a son in his 20s. She lives in Farmington and said she has a busy schedule as a waitress. Meak told police that he had been Genesis' caretaker for the last month and that the girl had been living with him for the past 2 1/2 weeks, according to the criminal complaint. Lee said that was the case because she and her 2-year-old had the flu the first week; then her next-older children had the flu the following week. Lee went to check on Genesis on the Saturday before she died, Feb. 7, and said the girl was fine. On Thursday morning, police were called on a report of a baby not breathing at Meak's family's home in the 2500 block of North Barclay Street. They found Genesis had black and purple bruises covering her stomach and chest, along with bruises on her face, according to the complaint. Meak told police the girl had hit her head on a space heater the night before, and on some of his weights about a week and a half earlier, the complaint said. He also said that "every time he changes her diaper, she does get a little � � ` - � spanking but not to the point where she 'passes out or anything,' " �� . � ��.�.� � �� according to the complaint. I s� ��° �:� ,� ° Genesis, whose nickname was "Genna," always wanted to be picked up ��' � rc`�,�� and cuddled, her mother said. � �E �� .,, �U��;��j� ��,�r� ;,'��`�� "She was a beautiful baby girl," Lee said. "She loved music. She had a �no�,t�,s, a�ea�ea. beautiful smile with her little white teeth. She made us happy. She was �2, �09�, �r� never naughty, she was just curious. We loved her very much." Map/ewond. Her "'°rher�#a2�7's Ma lewood olice released records Wednesda that included information boyfrier�cl, L�b.Mrke p p Y n��ak, nas be�n about other cases involving Meak. charged wrth mt�rder. rhe g'ri's,o'cti'reh In September 2009, Meak's then-27-year-old girlfriend told police that "(a) fter a series of ever worsening domestic disputes, including where ... Meak has threatened her, she decided to tell Meak that she was leaving him," a police report said. They had two children and had been together for nine years. Meak got a 7-inch knife, walked around the house and threatened to kill himself, the report said. His then-girlfriend said he hadn't threatened anyone else. Meak told police "he was acting bizarre and in a (manner) that would scare (her)," the report said. He also said that if his girlfriend left him, "this would be the end. He is feeling a lot of anxiety." Meak was taken to Regions Hospital for an evaluation. Then, in August 2010, police were called back to the house on a report that Meak's girlfriend (the same woman from the 2009 case) had locked herself and her two children in the bathroom. http://www.twincities.com/NewsBreaking/ci_27551192/Mother-of-child-killed-in-Maple... 2/19/2015 Mother of child killed in Maplewood says she trusted boyfriend - TwinCities.com Page 3 of 3 She had told Meak she wanted to end the relationship, and he "grabbed her by the neck with both hands and squeezed her for approximately 30-40 seconds," the report said. The two children had witnessed the first part of the assault before getting scared and running away, the report said. Police arrested Meak on suspicion of felony domestic assault. The Ramsey County attorney's office declined to file a felony charge, which led to the misdemeanor charge being issued and Meak's ultimate guilty plea to disorderly conduct. Mara H. Gottfried can be reached at 651-228-5262. Follow her at finritter.com/MaraGottfried. HOW TO HELP http://www.twincities.com/News/Breaking/ci_2755 1 1 92/Mother-of-child-killed-in-Maple... 2/19/2015