WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Phoenix Ho suffered at least one month of severe physical abuse before he eventually died and his killer mum is now hoping to strike up a romance from her prison cell
Sabrina Ho, from Centralia, Illinois, was given a life sentence after she was found guilty of capital murder in January 2024. This was in relation to her son, Phoenix Ho, who was just seven years old when he died in April 2022.
Todd Lofton Shaw, described as being Ho’s boyfriend at the time, was also sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of the child. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Phoenix suffered some of the worst injuries witnesses had ever seen, including damage to his genitals that was so gruesome medical staff gasped in horror.
We can reveal that Ho has now set up a profile on a companion site called Wire of Hope where she hinted at her desire to find love. This organisation was set up by a woman, Sigrid Wade, who moved from France to Florida to marry death row inmate Alan Wade.
Ho meanwhile has shared pictures of herself on Wire of Hope where she spoke about her dark blonde hair that reaches her mid to lower back along with her green eyes.
She also confirmed she was straight, writing: “I am looking for a pen pal that could possibly turn into something more. Someone special that I can talk to and who can keep up with my letters. I love to write and am currently incarcerated at Hilltop Unit of TDCJ. I am about to turn 49 years old.
“I love nature and trails, love to swim, and want to see more of the world, especially beaches. I am a pet lover. I am educated, with an associate degree in business management and a bachelor's degree in accounting forensics.”
And in a chilling reference to her son’s murder, she added: “I was caught with the wrong man and will discuss my charges once I get to know you.”
Wire of Hope is a site that is said to enable inmates to “escape the daily monotony and darkness, feel human again, appreciated, and sometimes even loved”.
Phoenix’s murder
Phoenix suffered weeks of abuse before he eventually died on April 1, 2022, after he was found with multiple significant injuries. According to reports, his horror injuries included bruising across his face and entire body, along with significant harm to his private parts.
First responders arrived at a home in the 1600 block of East McKinney Street in Denton, Texas, on the day of his death after a 911 call stated that Phoenix was suffering a medical emergency. The little boy was unusually light for his age and appeared malnourished.
Denton Police Department Deputy Chief Frank Padgett told Fox 4: “The paramedics discovered that the victim had extensive injuries all over the body. They transported him to a local hospital, and he was pronounced deceased at the hospital.”
Phoenix arrived at the hospital wearing just underwear and socks and according to reports, staff “gasped” when his underwear was removed. Paramedic James Arnautov also described there being a pause after they took in the “gruesome” injuries to his genitals. James had to leave the room in distress and he said the injuries were the “worst I'd ever seen” in his 14 years as a paramedic.
While they tried and failed to revive Phoenix, who was declared dead 10 minutes after arriving at the hospital, his genitals were covered up by a physician. And remembering the injuries, James added: “The more you looked, the more you saw.” Officers who arrived at the hospital also said Phoenix's face was so disfigured he looked like a “mummy” or a “zombie”.
Police chief Frank Padgett also told reporters that it was believed the boy was abused for at least the entire month of March and he added: “We do see a lot of crime every day. But this is a child, a 7-year-old child who couldn't defend himself. We want to be his voice.”
Ho meanwhile gave conflicting stories which didn’t align with the boy’s injuries before she confessed that her boyfriend of about three months, Todd, repeatedly physically abused him. She said things came to a head after hearing a “loud thud” from his bedroom.
According to her, she found Phoenix unconscious, but admitted that it took her some five hours to call the police. She also said she deliberately kept him out of school to hide his injuries.
The DA office later posted online: “According to testimony from several witnesses, the victim's injuries were some of the worst they had witnessed in their careers.”
His injuries included hemorrhaging in his left eye consistent with recent blunt-force trauma, cigarette burns, multiple puncture wounds and damage to his inner thighs and lips.
Shaw was initially arrested and was sentenced to life in February 2023 after pleading guilty to the murder. The courts did not pursue the death penalty but he will remain locked up until the day he dies.
Ho meanwhile was eventually convicted of capital murder and six child abuse charges and received life in prison without the possibility of parole. This is after a Denton County jury found her guilty of repeatedly abusing the child resulting in his tragic death.
As well as the automatic life sentence for capital murder, she was given an additional 10 years in prison for the child abuse charges.
