Child abuse and neglect happen every day. As difficult as it is to fathom, too many parents harm their kids with physical violence and/or not providing the basic necessities for life. Recently, Maryland parents were charged after their 5-year-old daughter was found dead and emaciated in her bed.
Bernice Byrd, 32, and Gerald Byrd, 34, were arrested and charged following the gruesome discovery. Their little girl, Zona, was severely malnourished when first responders found her. And now, they face serious charges related to her tragic death.
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The Baltimore parents were charged with child abuse resulting in death, among other crimes.
The Byrds were arrested after Zona was found dead in their home on October 14, CBS News reported. They were charged with child abuse resulting in death, multiple counts of second-degree child abuse, and neglect.
Although Bernice Byrd was initially supposed to appear in court on October 16, the appearance was rescheduled twice — because she was placed on suicide watch — before she showed up on October 18. She was held without bail.
On October 14, Zona's aunt called authorities to the couple's home.
Zona’s aunt called police to the Baltimore home a little before 1 p.m. October 14, according to CBS News. Allegedly, Bernice Byrd contacted her sister and was concerned about Zona, who she said was unresponsive in bed, according to court documents. The aunt said the 5-year-old was “not moving and ice cold.”
The mom and dad could not tell police when they last saw their daughter alive.
When paramedics arrived and confirmed the girl’s death, neither of her parents could remember when they last saw her alive, according to police. Zona was “extremely malnourished and emaciated,” with her ribs “clearly visible,” Fox 5 reported. Additionally, the couple couldn’t remember the last time they fed her or what she last ate.
Although Gerald Byrd told police their four kids had gone through garbage to find food, detectives found a salad in the refrigerator and a locked bedroom closet with food and a freezer with meat.
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Three other children were removed from the Byrds' care.
After Zona’s body was discovered and her parents were arrested, the Byrds’ three other kids were taken from the home, per Fox 5. A 6-year-old boy was allegedly also severely malnourished, weighing only 35 pounds. His two siblings were reportedly placed with relatives, although there was no information about their conditions.
Bernice and Gerald Byrd have face child abuse charges before.
In 2019, the Byrds were accused of child abuse after one of their other daughters went to school with a black eye, CBS News reported. The daughter told police she got into a fight with her parents. According to court documents, her mother hit her with an “open hand,” and Gerald Byrd tried to stab her with a knife and then kicked and punched her.
He served time after pleading guilty to assault, but Bernice Byrd’s case was postponed and then closed.
