Man retches as he's jailed for 100 years for torturing brother to death with mum

28 February 2024 , 11:05

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Man retches as he's jailed for 100 years for torturing brother to death with mum

A man retched as he found out he would be jailed for up to 100 years after he helped his mum torture and starve his autistic brother to death.

Paul Ferguson, 21, was convicted of first-degree child abuse against his sibling, Timothy, 15, who had tragically passed away after enduring horrific mistreatment at their home in the state of Michigan, US. The frail child weighed a mere 69 pounds when he died in July 2022.

The court heard how he was force-fed hot sauce, banned from accessing the fridge and deprived of sleep. His mother Shanda Vander Ark, 44, was sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole in January for her role in the abuse campaign.

She vomited as she was confronted with shocking images of Timothy's emaciation as he starved to death. The mum was convicted of murder and child abuse following the sadistic ordeal. She began retching in front of the jury, as she displayed signs of a mental breakdown when the prosecutor asked her: "Did he look like that when you put him in the bathtub?"

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Ferguson was sentenced to up to 100 years in prison (ABC)

Timothy, who was also speech and motor impaired, would be subjected to long ice baths, including a nine-hour session just hours before his death. The vulnerable child was only allowed to heat bread covered in hot sauce and he couldn't open the fridge as the pair kept it locked. Vander Ark is also believed to have planted motion sensors, alarms and live feed cameras around the house, and the cramped closet he was sleeping in.

The twisted mother, who was a law clerk at Newaygo County Circuit Court, earlier testified that she had purchased hot sauce online after Fergison suggested it would be a good punishment. A harrowing text exchange between the pair showed her asking whether they should put the sauce on the 15-year-old's genitals.

Paul Fergison tortured his brother Timothy (TIKTOK)

Shanda Vander Ark was jailed for life in January (Muskegon County Jail)

She questioned: "I wonder how it would feel to have that hot sauce on your private parts. I'm not saying touch him there, not at all, but dripping a little bit there, is that horrible." Ferguson testified against his mother and alleged that he was a victim of "something close to Stockholm Syndrome."

He said during her trial: "I desire to find a role model that, due to my own low self-esteem, I would do anything to make them proud of me. That's not an excuse, I know, but I feel like I'm glad I was at least able to realise it, so I could correct it."

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Vander Ark gagged during her trial (Court TV)

In a statement to the judge, he said at his trial: "What reasons could justify my actions? I could make up a thousand and never believe one. What words could voice my regrets? I could think of millions, yet never feel it's enough." However, the judge didn't believe that he was manipulated by his mother and said "the court believes Mr. Ferguson is one step away from becoming a psychopath like his mother", according to the Grand Rapids Press.

Ferguson claimed he was suffering from something similar to stockholm syndrome (FOX)

Ferguson earlier pleaded guilty to tormenting and starving his autistic sibling and was warned that he could rot in prison until the year 2124. Judge Matthew Kacel decided to go against sentencing guidelines, which suggest a nine to 15 year sentence, and instead issued a sentence of a minimum of 30 years and a maximum of 100. Muskegon County Chief Trial Prosecutor Matt Roberts further explained that Ferguson needs access to mental health treatment whilst he is in jail or he will be a risk to the public.

Monica Charsley