A federal grand jury has returned an eight-count indictment charging Emma Bradshaw of Carson City, Nevada, and Ladarrion McCray of Valdosta, Georgia, with felony murder by child abuse and multiple counts related to cruelty to children and animals, U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes announced on July 1 in Macon.
The indictment alleges that Bradshaw and McCray willfully deprived their son of necessary sustenance between Jan. 14 and Jan. 28 while residing at Fort Benning housing, resulting in the child’s death on Jan. 28. Both are charged with one count each of felony murder by child abuse; cruelty to children in the first degree; making false statements; animal crushing; aggravated animal cruelty; and two counts of animal cruelty. Each faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted.
According to the indictment and statements made in court, McCray was an active-duty soldier recently transferred to Fort Benning when Bradshaw joined him there while pregnant with their child. The couple is also accused of abusing three dogs—a female dachshund, a male hound, and a female doberman—by failing to provide adequate food, water, sanitary conditions or ventilation. On Jan. 28, members of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division executed a search warrant at their residence where they found two severely malnourished dogs inside the home and discovered the deceased dachshund in a trash barrel outside.
Medical evaluations determined that both surviving dogs were suffering from severe malnutrition and muscle wasting; a necropsy concluded that starvation caused the dachshund’s death. The indictment further alleges that Bradshaw and McCray lied to investigators about both their son’s condition prior to his death as well as about how their dog died—claiming it had succumbed to illness rather than starvation—and misrepresented where its remains were located.
McCray is currently subject to discharge proceedings from military service due to these allegations. Deputy Criminal Chief Veronica Hansis is prosecuting the case for the government while investigation continues by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court proceedings.
The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia advances community wellness through cooperation with law enforcement agencies across approximately 2 million residents over 70 counties within its central Georgia jurisdiction—including cities like Macon, Albany and Columbus—covering more than 25,000 square miles while prosecuting federal crimes such as drug trafficking or terrorism alongside civil litigation on behalf of federal interests, according to the official website.