A Detroit couple, who were licensed foster care workers, have been charged in connection with the death of a 9-year-old boy who prosecutors say suffered prolonged physical abuse and neglect while in their care.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced charges against 46-year-old Sherman Devaughn Jones and 41-year-old Sampaguita L. Jones, both of Detroit. The two were the ‘legal guardians’ of the victim. The charges include felony murder, torture, and involuntary manslaughter. They were given no bond.
According to officials, medics were called to the couple’s home on September 19, 2024, for reports of an unresponsive child. The boy was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Wayne County Medical Examiner later ruled the cause of death as pneumonia.
Authorities say the child’s death was a result of long-term abuse and neglect. Prosecutors allege that the boy was severely malnourished, visibly injured, and had been hidden from the outside world.
“This child suffered, and he suffered for a long time,” prosecutors said in court. “The trauma made him more susceptible to infection, and when he got sick with pneumonia, the defendants ignored his symptoms for weeks.”
Prosecutors also revealed that both defendants were previously licensed foster care workers, raising questions about oversight by Child Protective Services (CPS). It was disclosed in court that concerns about boys condition had been reported, but CPS failed to launch a proper investigation. At least two separate complaints were allegedly narrowly closed prior to the boy’s death.
“There’s quite a bit of a backstory there as to how the child came into their care, custody, and control, and at which point they no longer had legal authority and legal guardianship,” prosecutors said.
Editors note: Not full arraignment
