SHANDA VANDER ARK

A Michigan woman is competent to stand trial for her role in the death of her 15-year-old son, who was allegedly subjected to ice baths while malnourished, a judge has ruled.

MUSKEGON, MI – A mother charged for her role contributing to her malnourished son’s death has been deemed competent to stand trial. Shanda Vander Ark, of Norton Shores, is accused of torturing and starving her 15-year-old son who weighed 69 pounds at the time of his death in July. The 43-year-old mother faces open murder and first-degree child abuse charges in connection to her son’s death. Prior to a ruling, Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes read over portions of an evaluating doctor’s opinion of Vander Ark. The medical professional, Dr. Sushma Chandramouli, MD, wrote Vander Ark “did not demonstrate any cognitive impairment” when she was evaluated.

The younger brother, 15-year-old Timothy Ferguson, later died and the Fergusons’ mother is charged with murder. Paul B. Ferguson, 20, waived his preliminary examination and was bound over to Muskegon County Circuit Court on Monday, Aug. 1, court records show. Ferguson, 20, along with his mother, Shanda Vander Ark, 43, are each charged for their roles connected to the death of Timothy Ferguson. Once completed, the judge will determine if Vander Ark is mentally fit to stand trial, court records show. Other forms of abuse the teen endured, according to court records, included self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise and starvation.

Timothy Ferguson, who was found dead July 6 at his Norton Shores home, weighed 69 pounds at the time of his death. The arrest warrant affidavit for the teen’s older brother, obtained by MLive/Muskegon Chronicle from Muskegon County District Court, describes a horrific situation. Muskegon County prosecutors have not publicly released a motive connected to either case. He’s scheduled to appear for a probable cause conference Thursday, July 28 in Muskegon County District Court. The food Timothy was provided, however, included bread soaked in hot sauce and he was forced to drink hot sauce straight from the bottle, court records show.

A prosecutor says a western Michigan woman charged with the murder and child abuse of her malnourished 15-year-old son subjected him to ice baths that contributed to his death.

MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI – A mother charged with murder and child abuse in the death of her “extremely malnourished” teen son subjected him to ice baths that contributed to his death, according to a Muskegon County prosecutor. Shanda Vander Ark, 43, was arraigned Friday, July 8, for open murder and first-degree child abuse. Timothy Ferguson, 15, died at his Norton Shores home on Wednesday, July 6, said Muskegon County District Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes, who denied bond. The hypothermia was due to ice baths Vander Ark allegedly subjected her son to as a form of “punishment,” Roberts said. The victim had some mental disabilities and did not attend school, instead being home-schooled, Roberts told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle.