MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich — The mother convicted of torturing and killing her teenage son is appealing her conviction and asking for her parental rights back of her 8-year-old son.
Shanda Vander Ark was sentenced to life in prison in January after a jury found her guilty of first degree murder and first degree child abuse in the death of her 15-year-old son, Timothy Ferguson.
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.
During a week-long trial, witnesses testified that Timothy slept in a small closet in the basement without furniture or blankets, and was often submerged in ice baths for more than nine hours at a time. Handcuffs and zip ties were used to restrict Timothy's movement.
Police said security cameras were found throughout the house. Locks were placed on the refrigerator and pantry so that Timothy couldn't sneak food even though he was severely malnourished.
Vander Ark and her other son, 20-year-old Paul Ferguson, would force Timothy to stand facing a wall for hours at a time or do wall sits. Timothy was punished by being fed Carolina Reaper hot sauce, either on pieces of bread or poured directly into his mouth.
Paul pled guilty to first degree child abuse and was sentenced to 30 to 100 years in prison.
Vander Ark issued a claim of appeal on Feb. 8, hoping to overturn the termination of parental rights of her 8-year-old son, who was also living with Vander Ark and Paul during the time of the abuse.
The parental rights were taken from Vander Ark in a civil case following her criminal conviction in January.
Because Vander Ark will spend the rest of her life behind bars, she would be allowed to decide on things like how often her child would be required to visit her in prison, and who the child would stay with permanently if she regains her rights.
Several weeks later on Feb. 29, Vander Ark issued a claim of appeal in her criminal case, seeking to overturn the murder and child abuse convictions.
The Court of Appeals has not yet responded to the claim of appeal in either case.
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