Texas Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Abuse and Death of 6-Year-Old Daughter

Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

Justin Hopper, a 33-year-old Texas man, was convicted on Thursday of abusing his twin 6-year-old daughters, resulting in the tragic death of one of the girls, Arianna Battelle. Hopper was found guilty of injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
The jury reached their verdict swiftly, deliberating for just 15 minutes before concluding Hopper’s guilt. This case has drawn significant attention due to the severity and nature of the abuse inflicted on the young girls.
In a related conviction in 2023, the twins' stepmother, Jessica Bundren, was also sentenced to life in prison for injury to a child intentionally causing serious bodily injury leading to Arianna's death. According to court documents, both Hopper and Bundren physically abused Arianna and her sister as punishment for bedwetting and not eating quickly enough.
The abuse came to light on October 27, 2020, when Bryan police responded to a 911 call reporting a child not breathing. Upon arrival at the family’s home, officers found Arianna on the floor of her bedroom, covered with a sheet. She had visible bruises on her face and legs, as well as welts with puncture marks on her torso.
Initially, Bundren told the police that Arianna had fallen down the stairs and that she later found her unresponsive in bed. However, she later admitted to beating Arianna with a metal-studded belt and making her sleep on the floor as punishment for wetting the bed.
A forensic nurse, who testified during the trial, described this as the worst case of child abuse she had ever encountered. The severity of the injuries and the extent of the abuse left a lasting impression on all who followed the case.
Kimberly Elias, Hopper’s stepmother, expressed relief and satisfaction with the verdict. “I think justice was served, and I think anything less than the maximum would’ve diminished the seriousness of the crime,” she told reporters.
Hopper will be eligible for parole in 2054. His attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
- Justin Hopper convicted and sentenced to life in prison for abusing his twin daughters, resulting in the death of 6-year-old Arianna Battelle.
- Jury deliberated for only 15 minutes before reaching a guilty verdict.
- Jessica Bundren, the twins’ stepmother, was previously convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her role in the abuse.
- Arianna Battelle was found dead on October 27, 2020, with severe injuries inflicted by Hopper and Bundren.
- A forensic nurse described the case as the worst child abuse she had ever seen.
#JustinHopper #AriannaBattelle #JessicaBundren #ChildAbuse #JusticeServed #LifeInPrison #TrueCrime
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