Three members of a family in Wales are heading to prison after the death of a toddler. Michael and Kerry Ives have been found guilty of murdering their grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths. The boy’s mother, Shannon Ives, has also been found guilty on charges related to her son’s death. According to investigators, the young boy was subjected to intense amounts of abuse over months. All of the abuse was reportedly at the hands of his grandparents, who were supposed to take care of him. Sadly, his mother knew of the mistreatment and did nothing to protect him.
Michael Ives, 47, and 46-year-old Kerry Ives were convicted of murder at Mold Crown Court on July 15, 2025, North Wales Police shared in a release. Twenty-eight-year-old Shannon Ives was found guilty of causing or allowing his death. All three were found guilty of cruelty to a child.
“Michael, Kerry and Shannon Ives held positions of responsibility and should have shown Ethan love, care and protection,” said the senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Chris Bell. “Instead, Michael caused distress, pain and misery to his grandson before brutally taking his life nearly four years ago in August 2021.”
Bell added, “Kerry and Shannon both watched and took no action as the abuse unfolded in the home they all shared,” per the release.
On August 14, 2021, Ethan Ives-Griffiths collapsed after a “forceful attack,” the BBC reported. At the time, only Michael and Kerry Ives were in the room with him. His mother was allegedly upstairs on her phone.
An autopsy showed that the 2-year-old was “small and painfully thin” at the time of his death. He had 40 injuries, and his body was covered in cuts, abrasions, and bruises, according to the BBC. The boy’s head and abdomen were damaged, and his brain was swollen. The cause of death was determined as a nonaccidental head injury. He was also severely dehydrated.
According to court testimony, Kerry Ives waited 20 minutes after Ethan collapsed before calling paramedics. The boy was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for brain surgery, ITV reported. Doctors said he had “serious, catastrophic head injuries.” Examinations show his fatal head injuries were caused by deliberate force. This likely included forceful shaking.
Prosecutors alleged Kerry Ives and her husband made “a pact of silence as to what they did to Ethan that night.” Instead of taking responsibility, they blamed their daughter.
“They both had something serious to hide, namely that they were both involved in causing his death,” attorney Caroline Rees said in court, per ITV.
“It is not possible to be sure exactly what Ethan experienced behind closed doors during that time, but sadly, we know from the evidence gathered that he suffered significantly,” Bell said in the police release. “We saw from images of Ethan how he significantly deteriorated over the seven-week period he had lived with his grandparents, up until his murder.”
The boy’s father, Will Griffiths, released a statement via North Wales Police that was shared by People. “Unfortunately, I did not get much time with Ethan, but the time I did have was precious,” he said. “He will never be forgotten and will always live on in our hearts and memories.
“He can now rest in peace, knowing that justice has been served,” Griffiths added.
Michael, Kerry and Shannon Ives will be sentenced at Mold Crown Court on October 3.
