Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Crime

Michigan man sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for starving his disabled brother to death

Timothy Ferguson was an autistic 15-year-old who died weighing 69 pounds

Associated Press
Published
close
Fox News Flash top headlines for February 26 Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for February 26

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

A Michigan man who pleaded guilty in his disabled brother's starvation death was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 30 years in prison by a judge who said the defendant is "one step away from becoming a psychopath."

Paul Ferguson, 21, pleaded guilty in December to first-degree child abuse in the death of 15-year-old Timothy Ferguson. He was sentenced Monday to a minimum 30 years and maximum 100 years in prison.

Timothy Ferguson, who had autism and was speech- and motor-impaired, weighed only 69 pounds when he died in July 2022 at the family’s western Michigan home in Norton Shores, authorities said.

MICHIGAN WOMAN GETS LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR LETTING DISABLED SON STARVE TO DEATH

The brothers' mother, Shanda Vander Ark, 44, of Norton Shores, was sentenced in January to life in prison without a chance of parole after a jury convicted her of murder and child abuse in the teen's death.

Michigan crime

A man was sentenced after pleading guilty to starving his disabled brother to death. He will receive at least 30 years. 

Muskegon County Circuit Judge Matthew Kacel said he didn't believe Paul Ferguson was sorry for the abusive punishments, including ice baths, he and his mother carried out that led to Timothy Ferguson's death.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"The court believes Mr. Ferguson is one step away from becoming a psychopath like his mother," Kacel said during Monday's hearing, the Grand Rapids Press reported.

Paul Ferguson and Vander Ark punished Timothy Ferguson by feeding him hot sauce, subjecting him to ice baths, depriving him of sleep and locking the refrigerator and food cabinets, prosecutors said. He died from malnourishment and hypothermia.

Muskegon County Chief Trial Prosecutor Matt Roberts said Paul Ferguson represents a threat to the public if he doesn’t get mental health treatment while incarcerated.