by Baltimore, Maryland — Two Maryland parents have pleaded guilty after prosecutors say they allowed their children to starve, resulting in the death of their 5-year-old daughter, Zona Byrd.
The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office announced that Bernice Byrd and Gerald Byrd pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse resulting in death and first-degree child abuse in connection with Zona’s death.
They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 10 and face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Child Found Unresponsive Inside Home
According to authorities, someone called 911 on October 14, 2024, reporting that a 5-year-old child was “unresponsive” and “cold to the touch” inside the family’s Baltimore home.
Officers with the Baltimore Police Department responded and found Zona lying in a bed on the second floor. She was pronounced dead at 12:50 p.m.
Three other children were found inside the residence and transported to Johns Hopkins Medical Center for evaluation.
Autopsy Reveals Severe Malnutrition
Prosecutors said Zona weighed only 17.5 pounds at the time of her death. The autopsy reportedly found no physical trauma, but determined she was severely emaciated and extremely malnourished.
One of her siblings, just 6 years old, also appeared emaciated and was reportedly so weak that he could barely stand or walk when discovered.
Doctors and investigators observed that the surviving children ate “quickly and intently” once provided food at the hospital.
Food Allegedly Locked Away
Police said investigators found the home’s kitchen cupboards completely empty of food. The freezer reportedly contained only frozen meat, and the refrigerator held just a single salad.
However, authorities stated that non-perishable food items were kept locked inside the parents’ bedroom and closet on the second floor.
When questioned about when Zona was last fed, prosecutors said neither parent could account for providing her nourishment, and neither accepted responsibility.
Investigators also discovered that one surviving child had been seen searching through garbage at school in an attempt to find food, according to prosecutors.
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Prosecutor Calls Case “Nauseating”
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates condemned the parents’ actions in a public statement.
“No punishment will be as severe for these defendants as living with the knowledge that they murdered their innocent child.”
“As a father, the facts of this case are nauseating, and my heart continues to ache for Zona, who is gone from us far too soon.”
Bates added that the guilty pleas ensure the safety of Zona’s siblings and spare the family the trauma of a trial.
The case remains one of the most disturbing child abuse prosecutions in the region in recent years.
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