Shylea Thomas: an update


The Associated Press in Flint, Michigan reported yesterday that a hearing began on Tuesday to determine if Shylea Thomas's aunt and adoptive mother Lorrie Thomas will stand trial for murder and other charges in connection with her death. As conveyed in an earlier Frida post, the emaciated body of 9-year-old Shylea Thomas, who was quadraplegic, was found on April 20 in a public storage facility. 39-year-old Lorrie Thomas was arraigned on six charges, including second-degree murder, child abuse, tampering with evidence, welfare fraud and removing a body with permission. According to authorities, an examination of the evidence showed that Shylea was extremely neglected and died of malnutrition about six weeks before her body was found.


The full article is here.

Shylea Thomas: an update

Flint, Michigan - Following my post on Thursday about the discovery of the body of 9-year-old Shylea Thomas in a public storage facility, ABC News reports that her aunt and adoptive mother, 39-year-old Lorrie Thomas, was charged on Friday afternoon in connection with her death:

Thirty-nine-year-old Lorrie Thomas was arraigned Friday afternoon in 68th District Court in Flint on six charges, including second-degree murder, child abuse, tampering with evidence, welfare fraud over $500 and removing a body without permission.

Leyton says the charges stem from an examination of the evidence that police say shows that the child was extremely neglected. Her weight was down 61 pounds from 2007 and she had deep sores on her body."

We believe Lorrie Mae Thomas caused the death of this child," Leyton said. "Our forensics pathologist has ruled this a homicide. She found no physical abuse or trauma to the body but found severe ongoing chronic malnutrition and neglect."

As noted earlier, Shylea was quadraplegic as a result of nearly suffocating in her crib when she was 3 months old. She was reported missing on Wednesday, but according to prosectuors, relatives told workers with the state Human Services department that she had not been seen for six weeks. In this report by CNN, relatives describe Shylea as "a happy child who loved music and had an infectious smile." Lorrie Thomas is been held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday.

What happened to Shylea Thomas?

Genessee Co., Michigan - According to WFIE.com the body of 9-year-old Shylea Thomas has been found in a Michigan storage unit. Shylea Thomas, who was physically disabled, was living with her adoptive mother and sister when she went missing. According to the report:

Someone told authorities the girl was out of state on a visit, but police said they found her wheelchair inside the home, and later found her body in a storage facility.

The cause of her death is yet to be determined.