Sabrina Ho, a mother serving life in prison for the murder of her seven-year-old son, is now seeking a romantic connection behind bars. Ho, from Centralia, Illinois, was convicted of capital murder in January 2024 in connection with the death of Phoenix Ho in April 2022.
Her boyfriend at the time, Todd Lofton Shaw, also received a life sentence after pleading guilty to the child's murder. Court proceedings revealed Phoenix suffered injuries so severe that medical staff gasped in horror, including damage to his genitals that one paramedic described as the worst he had seen in 14 years.
Profile on Wire of Hope
Ho has created a profile on Wire of Hope, a companion site that allows inmates to “escape the daily monotony and darkness, feel human again, appreciated, and sometimes even loved.” The site was founded by Sigrid Wade, who moved from France to Florida to marry death row inmate Alan Wade.
On her profile, Ho shared pictures and described her dark blonde hair, green eyes, and interests in nature, swimming, and pets. She wrote: “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.”
She added: “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.”
Details of the abuse
Phoenix suffered weeks of abuse before his death on April 1, 2022. He was found with bruising across his face and 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, after a 911 call reported a medical emergency. The 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 only underwear and socks, and staff gasped when his underwear was removed. Paramedic James Arnautov described a pause after they took in the “gruesome” injuries to his genitals, adding: “The more you looked, the more you saw.” He had to leave the room in distress, calling the injuries the “worst I'd ever seen” in his career.
Investigation and sentencing
Police chief Frank Padgett said it was believed the boy was abused for at least the entire month of March, adding: “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 gave conflicting stories before confessing that her boyfriend of about three months, Todd, repeatedly physically abused Phoenix. She said she found him unconscious after hearing a “loud thud” from his bedroom but took some five hours to call police. She also admitted to keeping him out of school to hide his injuries.
The DA office later posted: “According to testimony from several witnesses, the victim's injuries were some of the worst they had witnessed in their careers.” Injuries included hemorrhaging in his left eye, cigarette burns, multiple puncture wounds, and damage to his inner thighs and lips.
Shaw was arrested and sentenced to life in February 2023 after pleading guilty. Ho was convicted of capital murder and six child abuse charges, receiving life without parole plus an additional 10 years for the abuse charges.
