Home / Crime and Justice / Mom's Punishment: Girl, 11, Dies After Being Sat On
Mom's Punishment: Girl, 11, Dies After Being Sat On
27 Nov
Summary
- Mother allegedly sat on adopted daughter, 11, leading to death.
- Mialah Leak died after a punishment ritual at her family home.
- Adoptive mother charged with manslaughter; autopsy pending.
An 11-year-old girl in Michigan tragically died after her adoptive mother allegedly used a severe punishment technique. Prosecutors claim Sherry Leak, 55, sat on her adopted daughter Mialah for an extended period to discipline her, resulting in the child's death. Mialah was found unconscious at their Fruitport Township home and could not be revived by paramedics.
Mialah's autopsy is pending, but authorities anticipate suffocation as the cause of death. Her twin sister, Callie, who has significant medical needs, has been placed in foster care, with authorities investigating signs of medical neglect. Leak admitted to sitting on Mialah during her arraignment and faces manslaughter charges.
Neighbors and Mialah's biological family have expressed suspicions of abuse, with some community members having previously contacted Child Protective Services. Loved ones are mourning Mialah's death and calling for reforms in the foster care system to prevent future tragedies.
