Left: Tanya Boyd (Grant County Sheriff”s Office). Right: Ezekiel Sheppard (Obituary).
A mother is accused of starving her disabled teenage son in a troubling case out of central Indiana.
Tanya Boyd has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, a level three felony, according to Grant County Superior Court records.
In 2021, the Indiana Department of Child Services began a case into 17-year-old Ezekiel “Zeke” Sheppard because of worries about malnutrition and stunted physical development, Indianapolis-based CBS affiliate WTTV reported.
In August 2022, Sheppard, who had cerebral palsy and was about 17 years old at the time, was removed from Boyd’s care after continuing to suffer from “severe chronic and acute malnutrition.”
His weight was just 88.5 pounds, according to court documents reviewed by the outlet. Once Sheppard was sent to a children’s facility, he started to improve. His weight increased by 61% and he grew two inches.
In September 2023, the Indiana Department of Child Services reportedly reached out to the Marion Police Department in reference to Sheppard’s case. He died on June 11, 2025; it was unclear whether his death was related to the alleged neglect.
“Throughout his struggles, Zeke loved to have people talk to him. He loved county music. And he always had a smile on his face,” his obituary reads. “His constant companion was a stuffed alligator toy, which helped to position and support him in bed.”
The obituary notes that Sheppard is survived by his mother and father.
Boyd is set to go on trial on December 15, with a pretrial conference set for roughly a month before that. Earlier this week, she filed a bond form with the Grant County Probation Department, court records show.
Boyd is not currently listed as an inmate, according to Grant County Jail records. She is next due in court in November for a pre-trial conference.
The investigation in the case is still active, law enforcement say.
