Two Baltimore parents, Bernice and Gerald Byrd, were sentenced to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree child abuse resulting in death and first-degree child abuse.
The couple was convicted of starving their 5-year-old daughter, Zona Byrd, to death and abusing her 6-year-old brother. In October 2024, officers found the 5-year-old unresponsive, cold, and in a "severely emaciated state" with no muscle tone. Her clothing was notably too large, indicating extreme malnutrition. The 6-year-old brother was also found to be "gaunt" and "could barely stand or walk," weighing only 35 pounds, and was severely malnourished upon hospital admission. Three other children in the home were also taken to Johns Hopkins Medical Center and received food.
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