MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — A 20-year-old who testified against his mother at her murder trial in the death of a teenage boy stood before a judge Monday and learned his sentence.
A Muskegon County jury convicted Paul Ferguson's mother, Shanda Vander Ark, of open murder and first-degree child abuse in the December 2022 death of her 15-year-old son Timothy Ferguson.
Judge Matthew Kacel handed her a life sentence without parole.
Paul Ferguson pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse in his brother's torture.
He was originally scheduled to learn his sentence on Jan. 29, but that hearing is now scheduled for Monday, Feb. 26 at 8:30 a.m.
"I ask the judge for nothing more than mercy and fairness, to offer me compassion so I might learn," Paul Ferguson said to the judge before learning his fate. "I feel I will pay for my choices yet never feel better because he's still gone."
Muskegon County Judge Matthew Kacel sentenced Ferguson to 30 to 100 years in prison. He was given credit for 592 days for time already served.
"I think you're sorry you got caught," Judge Kacel said.
When comparing him to his mother Shanda Vander Ark, Judge Kacel said, "I think you're just as bad."
Back in July 2022, police responded to the family home in Norton Shores and found Timothy dead. Officers said Timothy was emaciated and weighed only 69 pounds. His body also showed signs of hypothermia.
According to Paul, Timothy was forced to live in a small closet in their basement. A detective showed pictures of the closet to the court, indicating that the only objects in it were a blue tarp and an Amazon box. Police say the room had an overwhelming odor of urine and feces.
Paul testified that handcuffs and zip ties were used to restrict Timothy's movement, while cameras and motion sensors were used to monitor him, both in the closet and the bathroom. Shanda and Paul often discussed ways to keep him uncomfortable, like forcing him to stand facing a wall for hours at a time or doing wall sits.
Timothy was punished by being fed Carolina Reaper hot sauce, either on pieces of bread or poured directly into his mouth, which Paul admitted to doing to his younger brother.
Paul said he occasionally placed Timothy in a bathtub of cold water, including the day before he died for more than nine hours. Texts reveal Timothy was also forced at times to run up and down stairs while Paul chased him.
All of this, Paul says, was per Shanda's orders, claiming low self-esteem made him want to make his mom proud.
Paul said the morning Timothy was found dead, he attempted to resuscitate him for 18 minutes before they called 911. He said Shanda told him to lie to police, saying Timothy had been on a hunger strike.
Paul initially went with the lie, before saying he later confessed the full truth to investigators.
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