Custodial dad, stepmother sentenced in death of 13-year-old son (Tarboro, North Carolina)

Custodial father BRICE MCMILLAN and stepmom SANDRA MCMILLAN have been sentenced to prison in the death of the father's 13-year-old son from a previous marriage (unverified accounts have said that the boy's mother died from cancer). The boy had been tied to a tree for "punishment" and died from dehydration and heat stroke.

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/5476942/

NC father, stepmother sentenced in teen's death
Posted: Jun. 30 9:15 p.m.

TARBORO, N.C. — The father and stepmother of a 13-year-old boy who died last year after spending the night tied to a tree have been sentenced to prison after entering pleas that acknowledge prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them.

Multiple media outlets reported that 37-year-old Sandra McMillan of Macclesfield was sentenced to a term of 13 years to 16 years behind bars after she entered an Alford plea to a charge of second-degree murder.

Her husband, 42-year-old Brice McMillan, had entered an Alford plea earlier. He was sentenced to between 10 and 13 years in prison. Their sentences reflect the time they've served.

The McMillans were arrested in June 2008 on charges of murder and felony child abuse after their son, Tyler, died of dehydration and heat stroke. Authorities said he was tied to a tree overnight as punishment.