Two licensed foster care workers in Detroit are facing horrifying allegations after their 9-year-old foster son died from untreated pneumonia — with prosecutors accusing the couple of ignoring his worsening illness while subjecting him to prolonged abuse and neglect.
Sherman Devaughn Jones, 46, and Sampaguita L. Jones, 41, have been charged with felony murder, torture, and involuntary manslaughter in the death of young Owen, according to the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office.
The couple appeared in court last week, where lead prosecutor Erin Wilmoth detailed a gut-wrenching series of accusations — alleging not only medical neglect but a pattern of physical abuse so extreme, the medical examiner reportedly refused to count the number of scars on the child’s body.
“This child suffered, and he suffered for a long time,” Wilmoth told the court.
Owen died in September 2024, after battling an untreated case of pneumonia that, according to the autopsy, caused his right lung to collapse under the weight of pus filling his chest cavity. Wilmoth claimed that the Joneses ignored clear signs of distress for weeks and refused to get him medical care — ultimately leaving him to die in agony.
But the pneumonia was only part of a larger nightmare.
Prosecutors say Owen was covered from head to toe in bruises, scratches, and scars. He was severely underweight, with a bloated stomach and a staggering list of fractures — including broken ribs, arms, hands, pelvis, and shoulder bones. Some of the injuries were fresh, while others were in the process of healing, suggesting ongoing abuse over an extended period.
“He was concealed from the world,” Wilmoth added, claiming the boy was often locked in his room and never allowed outside. He was also homeschooled, which allowed the alleged abuse to go undetected and kept him from undergoing routine checkups or being seen by teachers or doctors who might have intervened.
A family member first raised concerns about Owen’s safety over a year earlier, in June 2023, by contacting Child Protective Services. But despite the warning, no investigation was ever opened. A defense lawyer noted this lapse during the court proceedings, suggesting the agency didn’t view the claims as credible at the time.
Still, prosecutors argue the couple had a legal and moral obligation to care for the child they brought into their home — and that they failed him in the worst possible way.
“Both defendants ignored his progressive symptoms and illness for weeks and never took him to receive medical care,” Wilmoth said.
The Joneses are currently being held without bond and are expected back in court on July 3 for a probable cause hearing. Their defense attorney has not issued a statement.
If you suspect a child is being abused, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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