HAGERSTOWN, Md. (TCN) — A 33-year-old man will spend five decades behind bars for abusing his two children, resulting in the starvation death of one of them.
According to the Herald-Mail, Andre Ford was sentenced on June 24 to 50 years in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse resulting in death and second-degree child abuse. Ford will also have to serve five years of supervised probation and cannot have any contact with his surviving son.
On Nov. 28, 2023, Hagerstown Police responded to a home to a report of an unresponsive 6-year-old boy. Officers reportedly found the child deceased on the floor with his head and shoulders on a pillow. He was allegedly wearing sweats at the time, but his arms weren’t inserted through the armholes. Police said the child suffered from “severe malnutrition and starvation,” and he reportedly weighed 32 pounds.
According to the Herald-Mail, the child had bruising throughout his body and suspected cigarette burns. Preliminary findings from an autopsy reportedly revealed the boy had possibly been dead for two days before he was found.
Authorities located a second male child in the home with similar injuries and removed him. He was also allegedly malnourished.
Investigators identified the children’s father, Ford, as the primary suspect and determined he “failed to provide proper care and medical treatment.”
Ford reportedly told investigators he last saw his 6-year-old son alive at approximately 9 p.m. the previous day playing with his brother. Ford allegedly claimed his 6-year-old son had been misbehaving and wouldn’t eat because he wanted his biological mother back in his life. Ford reportedly said he spanked his son and tried to feed him.
Authorities believe the defendant disciplined his children by withholding food. The victims also reportedly showed signs of past physical injuries.
According to the Herald-Mail, before announcing the defendant’s sentence, Circuit Court Judge Mark K. Boyer said, “This was an astonishingly brutal and disturbing situation.”
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