News footage of Fort Benning in Georgia (WSB).
An active-duty soldier and his wife, who were living on a Georgia military base, were both arrested for murder by child abuse after their son allegedly died of starvation.
Ladarrion McCray, 23, and Emma Bradshaw, 22, were both charged in federal court with murder by child abuse, cruelty to children, and making false statements in connection with the death of their son, who died in January. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia, McCray was an active-duty soldier with the U.S. Army and transferred to Georgia's Fort Benning. He was later joined by Bradshaw, who was pregnant with the child when she arrived.
On Jan. 28, the child died, and according to the indictment, which was reviewed by Law&Crime, the couple knew their child had symptoms of malnourishment leading up to his death. But allegedly, that was not what they told authorities investigating the boy's death. And authorities soon discovered that the child was not the couple's only alleged victim.
According to the indictment, authorities stated that from Jan. 14 until Jan. 28, McCray and Bradshaw "willfully" deprived the boy of food, "which jeopardized the child's health and well-being." More details about the boy's illness and death were not made public.
But when investigators went to the couple's home on the base, they allegedly found evidence of cruelty toward the two dogs inside the home. Investigators also allegedly found a third dog, deceased and thrown out in the garbage. McCray allegedly told investigators that the dog, a dachshund, "passed away due to illness" and was buried "at a park off-post." A necropsy determined that the dachshund died of starvation.
In the indictment, the U.S. attorney wrote that the two living dogs allegedly showed signs of "severe malnourishment and significant muscle wasting."
In addition to murder by child abuse, child cruelty, and making false statements, McCray and Bradshaw were both charged with animal crushing, aggravated animal cruelty, and two counts of animal cruelty.
The U.S. attorney stated that McCray is now subject to discharge hearings in connection with the allegations.