Bruises, cuts cover dead child

[meegbear]

The 13-year-old boy who died while tied to a tree last week sustained multiple injuries while bound, according to arrest warrants released Monday.

Tyler Gene McMillan was tied to a tree at his family home in Macclesfield for 18 hours, resulting in his death, according to the warrants. During that time, the boy suffered bruising to the wrist and cuts to the entire body. He also was missing flesh from his buttock.

N.C. District Court Judge Joseph Harper Jr. in Edgecombe County read the warrants during the first court appearance of Tyler's father, Brice McMillan, and stepmother, Sandra McMillan.

The two have been charged with first-degree murder and felony child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury in the death of their son. If convicted, they could face life in prison or the death penalty.

<snip>

Brice McMillan, 41, told Edgecombe County deputies last week that he tied his son to a tree in the family's yard at 1110 Felton Farm Road and forced him to sleep outside Tuesday and Wednesday nights because he was misbehaving, the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office said.

Stepmother Sandra McMillan, 36, found Tyler unresponsive around 4:30 p.m. Thursday after being tied to the tree since Wednesday night. He was pronounced dead at Heritage Hospital in Tarboro.

<snip>

http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/06/17/mcmillans.html

[Heidi]

1. I'm betting that the emotional injuries are far worse than the physical ones.

That's my experience as a person who was adopted at six, rescued from an extremely abusive situation. The physical abuse sort of faded away, but the other stuff can remain very close to the surface for a lifetime.

I hope this young man gets the love and support he needs and deserves.

[mindfulNJ]

2. It's too late

for love and support...he died.

[Heidi]

4. Just re-read the article.

Absolutely heartbreaking. RIP, Tyler Gene.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. I think Heidi was referring to the other children in the home n/t

[leftchick]

3. he is dead

:(

[Heidi]

5. Just re-read

more carefully. Takes a lot to make me cry, but this kind of thing'll do it. :(

[leftchick]

7. I read it a couple of days ago

it is just horrible. I wonder if any tv news has reported this. It did air on my local NPR channel yesterday.

:cry:

[malaise]

6. Throw away the fugging key

Jail those ignorant cruel morons for life.

add text.