Naman Shrestha
The union of Felisha Elliott and Wesley Coonrod resulted in two sons, Thomas and Steven Coonrod. However, the couple’s marriage was allegedly far from perfect as Felisha accused Wesley of being physically abusive towards her. When Thomas and Steven lost their lives in a fire, Wesley was suspected of being responsible for their untimely deaths. All the intricate details about the relationship and the investigation into the house fire are explored in Investigation Discovery’s ‘Evil Lives Here: I Still Hear Their Screams,’ which also features an emotional and insightful interview with Felisha Elliott recounting her experiences.
Felisha Elliott and Wesley Coonrod Were in Custody Battle Over Their Kids Who Died in a Fire
Felisha Elliott became a mother at the tender age of 14, and by the time she turned 20, she had three children. Since the father of her kids was allegedly an addict, she severed ties with him and stayed at a friend’s place. While there, she formed a bond with her friend’s brother, Wesley Coonrod, who was a single father to a teenage boy from a previous marriage. Soon, they began dating, and Felisha moved in with Wesley, along with her three children. Within a couple of months, she got pregnant with his child. On July 4, 2005, the couple got married, and Felisha began noticing signs of alleged abuse. Months later, in March 2006, the married couple welcomed their son, Thomas Austin Coonrod, into the world.
Wesley’s alleged pattern of alcoholism and abuse began slowing down after the birth of their son, giving Felisha hope for a better future. However, two months later, when she became pregnant again, her husband allegedly didn’t take the news too well. According to Felisha, during one of the arguments, he also allegedly picked up the television set and threw it at her. Amid the unstable situation in the household, Felisha gave birth to their second son, Steven Connor Coonrod. Upon digging deep into Wesley’s past and criminal records, she found out that he had been linked to domestic violence and assault cases. In light of the revelation, she began the divorce process. Felisha soon moved out of the house along with her children after Wesley struck her oldest son on the chest with a filled beer can.
In the following months, the couple battled over custody of their kids, Steven and Thomas. Since he owned the house, the court had made him the residential custodial parent. With Thomas’ fourth birthday coming up, Wesley allowed Felisha to visit the kids for the occasion. However, just the night before the party, on March 7, 2010, a fire broke out in Wesley’s apartment. By the time the firefighters arrived at the scene, he was out of the house, but Steven and Thomas were still inside the burning property. Ultimately, the kids died of smoke inhalation, and an investigation was launched. The police found a can of lighter fluid and a lighter nearby. They believed that the father had set the fire deliberately and locked the windows and doors to prevent his sons from exiting. Later, he was arrested and indicted with aggravated arson, two counts of aggravated murder, and two counts of child endangerment.
Wesley Coonrod is Currently Incarcerated at an Ohio Prison Facility
A few months later, in late September 2010, Wesley Coonrod’s trial commenced. However, the jury only found him guilty of two counts of child endangerment, and was hung on all other counts, including aggravated murder and arson. After the court declared a mistrial, the prosecution wanted to retry him for one count of aggravated arson and two counts of murder. Thus, Wesley’s retrial got underway in January 2011. During the trial, the prosecution claimed that the defendant had intentionally trapped his sons inside the building and set it on fire. Witnesses were called to testify against him, focusing on how Wesley appeared to be in a dazed state and didn’t tell the firefighters where the children were located. The defense presented experts who claimed that the cause of the fire was undetermined.
Wesley also took the stand and testified in his defense, claiming that he exited the house through the back window after seeing the fire from his bedroom. Denying the statements from witnesses, he argued that he tried to kick in the back door and rescue the kids. Finally, on February 1, 2011, the jury found him guilty of two counts of involuntary manslaughter, but not guilty of aggravated arson and two counts of murder. Wesley was sentenced to 20 years in prison. In 2012, he filed a motion to have his conviction overturned, but the Court of Appeals denied his appeal. As of today, the 58-year-old convict is serving his sentence at the London Correctional Institution in London, Ohio, with his parole eligibility date scheduled for February 2030.
Felisha Elliott Leads a Quiet Life Surrounded by the Love of Her Kids and Grandkids
The untimely and sudden deaths of her two sons deeply affected Felisha Elliott, who admittedly began using nerve pills to cope with the pain. She has claimed that she became a drug addict for a while and lost her sense of purpose. However, the Hillsboro, Ohio, native got herself back on track and became a responsible mother for her other three children. The Peebles High School and Ohio Christian University graduate received multiple certifications from Sinclair Community College, including Community and Social Services Specialist, Social Work Technician, Customer Service Technician, Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant, and more. She is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Health with an emphasis on Substance Abuse.
On the personal front, she seems to be in a relationship with another man. In October 2021, Felisha went through another devastating loss when her son, Timothy Perkins, was killed. She continues to miss his lost sons, including Steven and Thomas, especially on occasions such as their birthdays or National Sons’ Day. Meanwhile, she is a devoted mother to her other son, Levi Perkins, and daughter, Shyannah Elliott. Felisha also loves spending time with her numerous grandchildren, including Xander. She has been clean for many years and continues to go to counseling.
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