NC couple face murder in death of son tied to tree

[Ban Hammer 12,839]

RALEIGH, N.C. - A couple accused of tying their 13-year-old son to a tree for two nights to punish him for disobedience has been charged with murder in his death, authorities said Friday.

Brice Brian McMillan, 41, of Macclesfield, told a deputy that the child was being disobedient and was forced to sleep outside Tuesday while tied to a tree, the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office said. The teenager was released Wednesday morning but again tied up that night for bad behavior, authorities said.

The boy was left tied to the tree until the following afternoon when his stepmother found him unresponsive, Sheriff James Knight said. Knight said authorities believe the boy was bound to the tree with plastic ties and possibly other kinds of material.

"An adult couldn't get out of those," he said.

Temperatures in the area rose to above 90 degrees on Thursday afternoon, with a low of 73, according to the National Weather Service. Knight would not discuss any details on the cause of death, saying an autopsy was being conducted at the state chief medical examiner's office in Chapel Hill.

The sheriff also didn't have details on why the boy was being punished, although he said deputies were investigating whether he had run away.

Dwight Jefferson, an emergency responder with Pinetops Rescue Squad who was first on the scene, said he did not know the cause of the child's death.

"What we found was a 13-year-old laying on the ground — CPR being done by his father," Jefferson said. "Then we took over."

Knight said the boy was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

McMillan and Sandra Elizabeth McMillan, 36, also have been charged with felony child abuse. Two other children at the home, ages 7 and 9, have been placed in the custody of the Department of Social Services, authorities said. Knight said he does not know of any past allegations of child abuse in the family.

He also said he could not release the name of the boy.

The McMillans are being held in the Edgecombe County Detention Center under no bond and are scheduled for a first appearance in court Monday. The sheriff's office said they did not know if the couple had an attorney.

Macclesfield is about 90 miles east of Durham.

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[Fandango 1,439]

what the fuque?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I was trying to find a descriptive word that would fit. There isnt one.

[Lil Miss Sunshine 14]

I was trying to find a descriptive word that would fit. There isnt one.

inhumane perhaps?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I was trying to find a descriptive word that would fit. There isnt one.

inhumane perhaps?

Way way deeper in the gutter than that!

[Fandango 1,439]

Imagine the terror of being tied to a tree all throughout the night. What focking b@stards!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Pretty sick.

[Lil Miss Sunshine 14]

somebody should have introduced the concept of "grounding your child" to this couple..

poor kid.. i can only imagine what he was thinking/feeling during his "punishment"

[Nagishkaw 510]

I was trying to find a descriptive word that would fit. There isnt one.

Beyond jaded and sick.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

somebody should have introduced the concept of "grounding your child" to this couple..

poor kid.. i can only imagine what he was thinking/feeling during his "punishment"

Actually, this couple should be chained to a flagpole during a thunderstorm (since you opened the subject of "grounding"....)

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

somebody should have introduced the concept of "grounding your child" to this couple..

poor kid.. i can only imagine what he was thinking/feeling during his "punishment"

Actually, this couple should be chained to a flagpole during a thunderstorm (since you opened the subject of "grounding"....)

Perhaps they should be judged in a court of law and sent to prison. Though NC has the death penalty I believe - so I suppose that will make some people happy.

[Ban Hammer 12,839]

somebody should have introduced the concept of "grounding your child" to this couple..

poor kid.. i can only imagine what he was thinking/feeling during his "punishment"

Actually, this couple should be chained to a flagpole during a thunderstorm (since you opened the subject of "grounding"....)

that would be the mother of all groundings......

[Fandango 1,439]

somebody should have introduced the concept of "grounding your child" to this couple..

poor kid.. i can only imagine what he was thinking/feeling during his "punishment"

Actually, this couple should be chained to a flagpole during a thunderstorm (since you opened the subject of "grounding"....)

Perhaps they should be judged in a court of law and sent to prison. Though NC has the death penalty I believe - so I suppose that will make some people happy.

Aww lookit you pokin the pro Death Penalty crowd for another 'round the mulberry bush' convo...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I don't know. Do these parents deserve the death penalty, assuming anyone does?

[eau_xplain 2]

NC does have the death penalty but I think it's been put "on hold" for now while state congress reviews it.

Besides, the death penalty is too quick and easy for the adults who did it. What's that old Chinese saying? "Do unto others what you would want others to do unto you". So, perhaps they should be tied to a tree for a period of time proportionate to their age (vis-a-vis that of the child). :rant: