Michigan – A Michigan parent was convicted and ordered to serve to twenty four to fifty years in prison on the homicide count and up to one decade for the child abuse count after pleading no contest to charges in connection with her child’s death two years ago.
In March 2023, the 29-year-old parent, Siera, discovered her child unresponsive in his bed. At the time, her partner, 26-year-old Johnathan, was visiting his parent’s house. Upon returning home, he found their son deceased. A subsequent autopsy determined that the cause of death was fatal starvation.
Following the child’s death, both mom and dad were arrested and charged with second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse. Prosecutors alleged that the child had been healthy while in foster care but deteriorated after returning to his parents’ custody. Assistant Prosecutor MoIIy stated that once the child was in their care, he “met its demise.”
Both parents were initially held on a $1 million bond, with conditions that they would wear GPS tethers if released.
In October 2024, the child’s dad entered a no-contest plea to charges of second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse. A no-contest plea is treated as a guilty plea during sentencing in Michigan. The plea agreement recommended a sentence ranging from twenty four to fifty years in prison.
Prior to the tragic incident, the child had been in foster care. The exact reasons for his removal and the timing of his return to his parents’ custody have not been publicly disclosed. Prosecutors noted that the child was healthy while in foster care but deteriorated after returning to his biological parents.
The child’s dad has a prior criminal record, including a 2019 charge of aggravated assault and domestic violence. He pleaded guilty to the assault charge, while the domestic violence charge was dismissed. At the time of sentencing for his son’s death, he was credited with over 18 months already served in jail.
