DETROIT – Two people are facing charges after a 9-year-old Detroit boy who was locked away and abused died from ignored pneumonia symptoms, prosecutors said.
The legal guardians of the boy have been charged in connection with his death.
Sherman Devaughn Jones, 46, and Sampaguita L. Jones, 41, both of Detroit, have been charged with felony murder, torture and involuntary manslaughter, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Both defendants are also allegedly licensed foster care workers and have been running a foster care home since at least 2018.
At 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 19, 2024, medics responded to a home in the 3700 block of Gladstone Street after receiving reports of an unresponsive child.
The 9-year-old boy was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His cause of death was pneumonia.
The legal guardians allegedly neglected and physically abused the boy, and the trauma from the continued abuse and neglect, resulted in his death.
Family member calls CPS
A family member of Sherman Jones first noticed the 9-year-old with injuries in June 2023.
After seeing this, the family member reported her findings to CPS, but CPS “failed to open an appropriate investigation,” assistant prosecuting attorney Erin Wilmoth said during the arraignment.
CPS allegedly didn’t open an investigation until the child died.
‘Too many scars to count’
The 9-year-old had scars, scratches and bruising over his entire body, and the medical examiner noted that there were too many scars to count, according to Wilmoth.
The child was also underweight with an extremely protruding stomach, and had fractures to several areas of his body, including his ribs, pelvis, an elbow, his hands and arms.
Prosecutor: Boy was concealed from the public to conceal abuse,
The boy was allegedly locked away in his bedroom and not allowed to go outside. He also wasn’t taken for regular wellness checks and was homeschooled.
All of this was done in an effort to conceal the abuse, according to Wilmoth.
The assistant prosecuting attorney also said that the boy’s mother had been trying to get him back in her custody.
Pneumonia death was ‘extremely rare’
When the 9-year-old became sick with pneumonia, both defendants allegedly ignored his symptoms for weeks and never took him to see a doctor.
The medical examiner determined that Owen’s cause of death was pneumonia, which is “extremely rare” in a child who is healthy and receives treatment, according to Wilmoth.
According to the medical examiner’s report, it was also determined that this was a homicide due to the period of time that the progressive symptoms were ignored. Owen’s right lung was also compressed because his right chest cavity was filled with pus.
“This child suffered, and he suffered for a long time,” said Wilmoth.
Defendants remanded to jail
The judge found the allegations egregious and remanded both defendants to jail.
“The allegations in this case are beyond egregious, your Honor,” said assistant prosecuting attorney Erin Wilmoth. “This is the type of case that really leaves a pit in your stomach when you think of the unimaginable pain and suffering that was endured by young 9-year-old Owen.”
A probable cause conference is scheduled for July 3, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for July 10.