Fort Benning, Georgia — A U.S. Army soldier and his girlfriend have been indicted on multiple federal charges after prosecutors alleged they starved their young son to death while living in military housing and severely neglected three family dogs, leaving one of the animals dead.
A federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment against Ladarrion McCray, 23, of Valdosta, Georgia, and Emma Bradshaw, 22, of Carson City, Nevada, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
The allegations stem from events that prosecutors say occurred while the couple was living at Fort Benning, a U.S. Army installation in Georgia.
Prosecutors Allege Child Was Deprived of Food
According to the indictment, prosecutors allege the couple willfully deprived their son, identified only as “L.M.,” of necessary sustenance between Jan. 14 and Jan. 28, resulting in the child’s death.
Authorities have not publicly released the child’s age.
Federal prosecutors further allege that after the child died, McCray and Bradshaw made false statements to investigators from the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
According to the indictment, the couple allegedly claimed their son had shown no signs of illness before his death, a statement investigators allege was false.
At this stage, these allegations remain accusations, and the defendants have not been convicted of the charges.
Indictment Also Alleges Severe Animal Neglect
The indictment also accuses the couple of neglecting three family dogs by allegedly failing to provide adequate food, water, proper sanitation and ventilation.
Prosecutors allege that a female dachshund died because of the neglect and that its body was later discovered in a trash bin outside the family’s home.
The two surviving dogs—a male hound and a female Doberman—were allegedly found severely malnourished, according to prosecutors.
The allegations form the basis of multiple animal cruelty charges included in the federal indictment.
Soldier Faces Military Discharge Proceedings
McCray was serving as an active-duty U.S. Army soldier and had recently been transferred to Fort Benning when the alleged crimes occurred, according to federal prosecutors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said McCray is now subject to discharge proceedings from the Army as a result of the allegations.
The indictment charges both defendants with felony murder, cruelty to children, making false statements and animal cruelty, among other offenses.
If convicted, both McCray and Bradshaw face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Both Defendants Plead Not Guilty
Court records show that both McCray and Bradshaw have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The records also indicate that each defendant was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond while the criminal case proceeds through federal court.
As with all criminal cases, the indictment contains allegations that prosecutors must prove in court, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, help is available through the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453, which operates 24 hours a day and offers confidential support in more than 170 languages.
What are your thoughts on this case? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below while remembering that the criminal allegations remain subject to the court process.
