Mich. Mom Who Starved 15-Year-Old Son to Death Vomits on Stand When Shown Photos of Boy, Who Weighed 69 lbs.

Liam Quinn

19 December 2023 at 1:14 pm·1-min read

Shanda Vander Ark was found guilty of murder and child abuse

<p>COURT TV/ YouTube</p> Shanda Vander Ark — COURT TV/ YouTube
Shanda Vander Ark

A Michigan mother who was found guilty of murder in the starvation death of her son vomited after being shown pictures of his malnourished body as she testified during her trial.

Shanda Vander Ark, 44, had been accused of abusing her 15-year-old son, Timothy Ferguson, who died in July 2022, weighing just 69 pounds, showing signs of malnutrition and hypothermia, WZZM reported, citing law enforcement. The cause of the death for the boy, who according to authorities suffered from disabilities, was ruled a homicide.

Vander Ark was found guilty of murder and child abuse by a Muskegon County jury Friday, online court records indicate. She will face a mandatory life sentence at a sentencing hearing in January.

<p>Muskegon County Jail</p> Shanda Vander Ark — Muskegon County Jail
Shanda Vander Ark

In a video of her testimony posted by Court TV, Vander Ark is shown several photos of Timothy’s, before ducking below the stand as she appeared to vomit several times in response to the pictures.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

CBS News reported, citing prosecutors, that Vander Ark was accused of feeding Timothy hot sauce, putting him in ice baths and depriving him of refrigerator and cabinet access.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.

INSIDER
After my husband and I stopped wearing our wedding rings, we tried polyamory. 3 years later, we're happily nonmonogamous.
My husband and I were monogamous before we got married. When we stopped wearing our wedding rings, we decided to try polyamory.
The Telegraph
Woman arrested after prison officer filmed allegedly having sex with inmate
A woman has been arrested after footage was widely circulated that appeared to show a prison officer having sex with an inmate.
The Telegraph
‘I’m not going to buy electric again – it’s the worst car I’ve ever had’
Ray Bestwick bought an electric car last May in the hope of hassle-free motoring.
Hello!
Elizabeth Hurley, 59, is a goddess in tiny string bikini
Elizabeth Hurley showed off her incredible physique in a yellow string bikini as she posed for Instagram – and the Gossip Girl actress, 59, looked better than ever. See photos.
Hello!
Amal Clooney, 46, is glowing in flirty floral dress as she walks hand in hand with George Clooney
George Clooney and his wife, Amal, were spotted in St Tropez this past week, and Amal made the most of the glorious sunshine with a flirty floral mini dress. See the pictures here...
Hello!
Michael Schumacher's heartbreaking health situation: reclusive life and everything we know
Formula One legend and former Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher, 55, has lived a reclusive life with his family away from the glare of the spotlight since his skiing accident in 2013…
SETHLUI.COM
Guan Huat Yong Tau Foo: 44-year-old YTF stall with super gao laksa broth & over 40 ingredients
The post Guan Huat Yong Tau Foo: 44-year-old YTF stall with super gao laksa broth & over 40 ingredients appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
INSIDER
Israel has never been impressed with its version of the $1 billion Patriot air defense system. Now it could offload up to 8 to Ukraine.
Ukraine has long coveted more of the $1 billion US-manufactured Patriot air defense systems.
NY Daily News
Ben Affleck officially moved out of marital home with Jennifer Lopez while she was on vacation
Ben Affleck has made his move-out official, reportedly taking all of his belongings from the Beverly Hills mansion he previously shared with wife Jennifer Lopez. The actor, 51, has been staying alone in a Brentwood rental home for the past month, but recently decided to remove all of his items that remained in Beverly Hills. He’s said to have moved all of his things out of the $60 million ...
INSIDER
Kamala Harris' camp is mad that Newsom and Whitmer are being floated as Biden replacements over the VP
Harris is seen by many as a natural potential successor to Biden. But an array of Democrats believe her middling approval ratings are a liability.
SETHLUI.COM
Mr Egg Fried Rice: Tasty fried rice with massive portions, hidden among HDBs in Bishan
The post Mr Egg Fried Rice: Tasty fried rice with massive portions, hidden among HDBs in Bishan appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
The Guardian
‘Sex in an LA spa was strangely wholesome, like an extension of the wellness experience’: This is how we do it in America
Rob used to be hyper-monogamous – but then he met Mikey and discovered a whole world of experimentation
The Telegraph
‘Trillion dollar trainwreck’: US super stealth fighter is eating the next generation
All of a sudden, the US Air Force is considering cancelling a multibillion-dollar effort to develop a new stealth fighter. Citing the high cost of the so-called “Next-Generation Air Dominance” programme and the competing demands of other projects, USAF leaders have warned they may have no choice but to cancel NGAD – and find other ways of winning control of the air in future wars.
BuzzFeed
This Guy Shared The One Thing His Date Said That Made Him Stand Up And Leave Immediately, And Now He's Wondering If He Was Too Harsh
"We started having the 'our past relationships' talk, and she told me about her high school and college boyfriends. Then, she admitted that she cheated on her college boyfriend..."
Futurism
There's an Extremely Stupid Reason NASA Scientists Can't Study China's Amazing New Moon Rocks
Earlier this week, China's Chang'e 6 lunar probe landed in Inner Mongolia, delivering the first samples collected from the far side of the Moon. The mission has the international scientific community excited — the far side of the Moon, which permanently faces away from the Earth, remains a bit of a mystery. Only China has […]
The Independent
A pair of siblings were stabbed and the sister’s dying words were that the killer was a man from Detroit. Thirty-four years later, he’s been arrested.
Pamela Sumpter, was raped and stabbed, and her brother John Sumpter was stabbed to death, at their Georgia home on July 15, 1990
The Telegraph
Putin’s navy is now a spent force
In 2024, the Russian navy plans to take delivery of 12 new warships plus another 38 small craft, according to state media.
CNN
The reason why NATO and Europe found Biden’s debate performance so alarming
Joe Biden’s performance at the CNN presidential debate against Donald Trump has raised concerns with US allies - particularly within NATO and Europe.
CNN
A year ago, she drank battery acid to escape life under the Taliban. Today, she has a message for other Afghan girls
Arzo survived a suicide attempt but now faces a new threat that could send her family – and millions like them – back to Afghanistan and a life that has become so intolerable for women and girls that some would rather die.
The Telegraph
Who are we playing? Jude Bellingham sparks fury after forgetting England’s next opponents
England star Jude Bellingham has sparked fury in Slovakia by saying he didn’t know who the Three Lions were playing against in the last 16.

Latest stories