DETROIT – A man who pleaded guilty to beating an 8-year-old boy to death will spend decades behind bars.
Background: Grandmother mourns ‘Grandma’s Boy’ who was beaten to death by his mother, stepfather in Detroit
Adren Thimes Jr. was killed in November 2024 at his Detroit home near the intersection of Clairmont and Woodward avenues. The cause of death was ruled to be multiple blunt force trauma to the head.
Jamarr Hill, the boy’s stepfather, and Kentoria Latricia Moss, his mother, were arrested and charged in connection with the death.
Hill was charged with felony murder and first-degree child abuse, while Moss was charged with second-degree murder and lying to a peace officer.
Hill pleaded guilty to second-degree homicide in July and the other two charges were dismissed.
At Hill’s sentencing on Thursday, Aug. 7, two family members spoke -- Adren’s aunt and his grandmother. Both family members spoke of Hill and Moss’ image and reputation, driving new cars and wearing expensive clothes, while Adren wore dirty and misfitting clothes and shoes.
“They ate well, but the kids didn’t,” she said. “They dressed well, they rode in the best car. I think they had the best of everything, but the kids didn’t.”
His grandmother said Adren was malnourished and weighed 33 pounds when he died.
“It was premeditated, your honor. He is a monster,” the grandmother said. “Whatever time you give him, it’s not enough.”
In Hill’s statement, he said he considered Adren as his own son and that the children often played outside, resulting in dirty clothes. He explained the bruises as coming from boxing lessons.
Judge John Gillis said that what happened to Adren was the worst he’d ever seen working as a judge.
“That is an 8-year-old boy,” he said. “What is wrong with you? How can you do that?”
Gillis said he wished he could sentence Hill to life imprisonment, but that he would respect the plea agreement and sentenced him to 18-40 years behind bars.
“I don’t know how you could do something like that to someone you claim you love,” Gillis said. “I hope you take these next 18 to 40 years to really think long and hard about what you did to Adren Thimes.”
Moss is scheduled for a court examination on Aug. 29.
Prior coverage: