Father Allegedly Abused Second Child, Killing Her

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A father is behind bars accused of killing his 6-month-old daughter. Surprising new details emerged concerning the father's criminal history.

Willis Lambert Jr., 37, was arrested Wednesday after evidence showed he had badly shaken his daughter. Lambert has already served time for abusing another one of his children.

According to court records, Lambert was sentences to 20 years for badly beating his 2-month-old son, but he only spent just 8 years, 11 months, and 25 days in prison for the crime.

It's news that has shocked a neighborhood.

"There is no way anybody can hurt a child. It's awful," neighbor Cynthia Garcia said, who is a grandmother of two.

"The pathologist who did the examination on this little girl said this was the most severe shaking case he's ever seen," Medical Examiner's Office spokesperson Cherokee Ballard said.

Ballard said the 6-month-old child never stood a chance.

"The pathologist found severe bleeding around the eyes, hemorrhaging and tears to the muscle in and around the brain." Ballard said. "No way these injuries could be an accident, absolutely not in our pathologist's opinion. This was not an accident."

Court documents show when Lambert was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 1999 for hitting his 2-month-old son, he caused bruising to the boy's eyes and fractures of his collar bone and femur.

Lambert ended up serving less than 9 years for the crime which is why neighbors are hoping if found guilty again, he goes away for good.

"They should put him somewhere probably where he cannot hurt any children anymore," Garcia said.

The Department of Corrections, which is in charge of releasing a prisoner, said the reason Lambert was let go was based largely on good behavior, which includes getting his GED in prison. But they say an early release is nothing out of the ordinary.

Another reason the Department of Corrections said Lambert was able to get out early is because he was sentenced before the state implemented their 85 percent rule where under certain crimes the person must serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.