Bernice Byrd, 33, and Gerald Byrd, 36, have pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse resulting in death and first-degree child abuse following the tragic death of their 5-year-old daughter, Zona Byrd. The guilty pleas were announced by the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office on Thursday. State’s Attorney Ivan Bates condemned the parents’ actions, calling the facts of the case “nauseating,” but emphasized that justice had been served and that Zona’s siblings, who were also victims of neglect, would be kept safe.
Details of the Abuse and Death
On October 14, 2024, a 911 call was made reporting that 5-year-old Zona was “unresponsive” and “cold to the touch” in her bed at the family’s home on Aiken Street in Baltimore. Police and paramedics found Zona dead at the scene. An autopsy revealed that Zona weighed only 17.5 pounds and showed signs of severe malnutrition, with no physical trauma evident. Investigators discovered that the family’s kitchen was empty, and while some non-perishable food was stored in the parents’ locked bedroom, there was little access to nourishment for the children. Further investigation revealed that one of Zona’s siblings had been seen searching through the school’s garbage for food.
Parents Arrested and Children Taken into Custody
During the investigation, it was found that the Byrds failed to take responsibility for feeding Zona and could not account for when she had last been provided food. The other three children, who were also malnourished, were taken to Johns Hopkins Medical Center for evaluation. Doctors noted that they ate ravenously when provided food at the hospital. The 6-year-old boy, who weighed only 35 pounds, was treated for malnutrition. The Byrds are scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2025, and face a maximum sentence of life in prison for their crimes.
