BBQing a dead son, or why some states need the death penalty

[slappy4428]

Prison for Detroit couple accused of trying to grill son's body

BY BEN SCHMITT • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • April 16, 2009


A Detroit couple accused of trying to cremate their dead 2-year-old son on a barbecue grill, and then hiding the remains while collecting welfare benefits for the child, were both sentenced to prison today.

Nickella Reid, 23, pleaded guilty last month in Wayne County Circuit Court to involuntary manslaughter and welfare fraud in connection with the death of her son, Deuntay Miller. She was sentenced today by Judge Michael Callahan to 10 to 15 years.

Joseph Miller, 28, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder for Deuntay's death. Callahan sentenced him to 22 to 50 years.

The case broke when Reid and her mother took Deuntay's 1-year-old brother, Nicholas Miller, to Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit on Nov. 11, 2007, for second- and third-degree burns. Prosecutors said at the time that 35% of Nicholas' body had been burned, and he is still recovering.

Miller also pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse for the burns Nicholas sustained.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090416/NEWS01/90416077/Prison+for+Detroit+couple+accused+of+trying+to+grill+son+s+body

 

[Cosmo]

OK, so at first, I was thinking this was some poor couple looking for a cheap way to cremate their lost child ... then ... uh, yeah. ****.

 

[KevinmH9]

Speechless.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Too soon?

 

[User 1019]

I'm thinking, yes.

 

[DirtyDeeds]

Too soon?

I am truly ashamed that I laughed at that. What a horrific story.

 

[WaylonJennings]

Wait, so the son was already dead, or no?

Because I don't understand what's second degree about it if they placed a live son on a grill ...

 

[DirtyDeeds]

I think the 2-year-old on the grill was dead, but the 1-year-old was burned as well. I thought that was a little vague, but I admittedly didn't read too deeply into the story.

 

[RossLT]

Was one of the people in the photos supposed to be a woman? Cause I couldn't tell.

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

Did they brush the kid with Country Bob's Sauce before they put him on the grill?

 

[Football_Bat]

I thought this was another Wisconsin thread at first.

 

[exmediahack]

Me, too, on the Wisconsin thought. That state rarely has much crime but it's usually damn interesting.

What a horrible, horrible story. At least I've moved past another person on the Worldwide Dad Rankings.

So...any takers on "let's rehabilitate this person instead of giving him or her the needle"?

 

[Blitz]

Pathetic excuses for humankind.
These people need to be shot.
Or better yet, burned at the stake.

 

[Football_Bat]

Life in prison without the possibility of parole.