An active-duty U.S. Army soldier and his wife were arrested on federal charges including murder by child abuse after their son died of starvation on a Georgia military base in January.
Ladarrion McCray, 23, and Emma Bradshaw, 22, face multiple charges in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. Prosecutors allege the couple willfully deprived their son of food from Jan. 14 to Jan. 28, the date of his death.
The indictment states that McCray and Bradshaw knew of the child's symptoms of malnourishment but made false statements to investigators. McCray, who had transferred to Fort Benning, was joined on base by his pregnant wife.
Investigators also discovered evidence of animal cruelty at the couple's home. Two dogs showed signs of severe malnourishment, and a third dachshund had been discarded in the garbage after starving to death.
In addition to the child-related charges, both defendants were accused of animal crushing, aggravated animal cruelty, and two counts of animal cruelty. McCray now faces U.S. Army discharge proceedings.