On Friday, the mother of a five-year-old girl who was found dead in an East Baltimore home was held without bail.
A girl named Zona Byrd was found dead in her bed on Monday. Her mother, Bernice Byrd, 32, and father, Gerald Byrd, 34, were both arrested.
On top of that, they were charged with child abuse that led to death, child abuse in the second degree, and negligence.
Bernice was supposed to go to court on Wednesday, but her date was moved to Thursday because she was sent to the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women to be watched for suicide. After that, the meeting was moved to Friday, and she was held without bail.
In November, she has a preliminary hearing set.
Girl found severely malnourished
Monday just before 1 p.m., the child’s aunt called the police to the house on Aiken Street. According to court records, Bernice called her sister to say she was worried about her daughter who wasn’t responding in bed.
Zona was “not moving and ice cold” in her bed, according to her sister. The girl had already died when the paramedics got there. Police say that neither parent could remember the last time they saw the child living.
The cops said that Zona was severely malnourished and very thin. They also said it was easy to see her ribs.
It was too late for Bernice and Gerald to remember when or what the girl had last eaten. The dad made it sound like their four kids were looking for food in the trash.
When the police checked the house, they found a salad in the fridge, non-perishable food in a locked bedroom closet, and meat in the freezer.
Three children taken from home
Their three other kids were taken away from the house. Police said a six-year-old boy who weighed only 35 pounds and could hardly walk was also very thin. Cincinnati Children’s says that a boy that age should weigh between 36 and 60 pounds, based on what height they are.
Police say that the two other kids were given to family members. No news has been released about the other children who were taken from their homes.
Convicted of prior child abuse
Between Bernice and Gerald, charges of child abuse and attack were brought against them in 2019.
Court records show that one of the couple’s other children went to school with a black eye and told police she got into a fight with her parents.
She hit the child with a “open hand” and took her phone before the child went to her room. Gerald broke into her room and tried to stab her with a knife, the report says.
He then kicked and punched her. She had to move in with her aunt after being kicked out of the house. It’s not clear if the aunt who reported Zona’s body is the same one.
Gerald pleaded guilty to two counts of attack and did his time. The case against Bernice was put off indefinitely and was later thrown out.
