A MICHIGAN man has pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse in connection to the harrowing death of his younger brother, who died of starvation.
Paul Ferguson entered a guilty plea in court on Thursday, two days after his mother, Shanda Vander Ark, was convicted of the murder of her disabled 15-year-old son, Timothy.
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Ferguson, 21, who is facing a maximum penalty of life in prison, will be sentenced on January 29, the same day Vander Ark faces sentencing.
The 21-year-old admitted to the Muskegon County courtroom how he forced his younger brother to eat hot sauce, deprived him of food, and left him in ice baths for hours at a time.
However, Ferguson claimed in court it was at the direction of his mother.
Ferguson answered "yes" as his attorney recounted the list of ways he and his mother tortured 15-year-old Timothy.
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The elder sibling even admitted that he placed his brother's lifeless body in an ice bath at the instruction of his mother.
Timothy was also subjected to a nine-hour ice bath the day before he died, according to court documents.
At the time of his death on June 6, 2022, Timothy was 68 inches tall (5.6 ft) and weighed 69 pounds despite being 15 years old.
Timothy's body was not found until a month later, on July 6, 2022.
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He was routinely handcuffed and forced to sleep in a closet, according to Ferguson's testimony on Thursday.
Timothy was autistic with speech and motor impairment.
Ferguson agreed to testify against his mother in a deal with prosecutors, who can't use anything he said against him per the agreement.
A test message from Ferguson to his mother detailed acknowledgment of Timothy's malnourishment.
Ferguson did suggest giving him more food.
“He’s bone thin mama, I honestly think we need to actually feed him," the text said, per Court TV.
Ferguson admitted to the court that he did not love his brother enough and now would like to get justice.
“I suppose I did not love him enough. That’s why I’m trying to get justice," he said.
Ferguson also suggested he feels he might have some sort of Stockholm Syndrome and would do anything to make his mother proud.
But both the mother and older sibling are blaming each other for the abusive actions.
Vander Ark took the stand following Ferguson and pointed her finger at him, suggesting to everyone that it was actually him who insisted on the abuse.
The mother claimed to the court last week that Timothy started to act out after the father, Adam, was forced to move out in January 2022 due to a stroke.
She also admitted that she felt like a failure.
Vander Ark vomited in court immediately after being shown a photo of Timothy's malnourished body hours before he died as well.
Prosecutors said they would recommend Ferguson receive a sentence within sentencing guidelines due to his cooperation.
The judge felt differently though.
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He told Ferguson: “There is no guarantee that it would be within guidelines."
Ferguson responded saying: “Yes, Your Honor.”
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