A Carson City woman and a Georgia man are facing federal charges after prosecutors alleged they starved their son and abused their pets, resulting in the child’s death and the death of one dog.
The 22-year-old Carson City woman, Emma Bradshaw, and 23-year-old Ladarrion McCray of Valdosta, Georgia, were indicted on eight counts, including felony murder by child abuse, cruelty to children in the first degree, making false statements, animal crushing, aggravated animal cruelty, and two counts of animal cruelty.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, the indictment was filed July 15. Prosecutors said both defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The indictment alleges Bradshaw and McCray willfully deprived their son of necessary sustenance between Jan. 14 and Jan. 28, which jeopardized the child’s health and well-being and resulted in the child’s death on Jan. 28.
At the time of the alleged conduct, prosecutors said both defendants were living in housing on Fort Benning. McCray was an active-duty soldier who had recently transferred to Fort Benning, and Bradshaw joined him on post shortly after his arrival. Bradshaw was pregnant with their child when she arrived at Fort Benning.
Prosecutors also allege the couple abused their three dogs, including a female dachshund, a male hound and a female doberman, by failing to provide adequate food, water, sanitary conditions and ventilation.
On Jan. 28, members of CID executed a search warrant at the home the defendants shared on post. Investigators found the male hound and female doberman severely malnourished, while the dachshund was found dead in a trash barrel outside the home.
The two surviving dogs were taken to an animal shelter on Fort Benning, where medical evaluations found they were experiencing severe malnourishment and significant muscle wasting. A necropsy of the dachshund determined that the dog died of starvation.
The indictment also alleges Bradshaw and McCray made false statements to Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division special agents, including claims that their child showed no signs of illness before his death.
Prosecutors said the defendants also allegedly told investigators the dachshund died from illness and was buried at a park off Fort Benning. The indictment alleges they knew their son was suffering from severe malnourishment before his death and that the dog’s remains were placed in a garbage bag and disposed of in household trash near their residence.
McCray is currently subject to discharge proceedings to remove him from military service as a result of the alleged conduct.
The defendants’ initial appearances will be scheduled by the court.
