[AppyPappy]

Maybe the baby died and they tried to cremate it

[MeanWestTexan]

I pray you are correct.

[boop]

"Maybe the baby died and they tried to cremate it"

Dollars to donuts this is what happened. The bones probably show multiple previous fractures from the beatings the child took before death.

[PetroniusMaximus]

“Maybe the baby died and they tried to cremate it”

Yeah - that’s what I thought also.

But to sand there and watch your own child’s body cook to a crisp in a grill... who could do that???

This is demonic evil.

[reagan_fanatic]

I’d be more interested in how the baby died rather than what happened to it afterwards.

[Aliska]

"cremate it"

I would buy your theory but somehow, and the article isn't clear, they were attempting to burn this child alive.

What absolute, sick freaks, must have been cranked up on something or are both criminally deranged and insane, even a lot of certifiably insane people wouldn't do something like that, certainly wouldn't want to risk your child with one.

Wonder if they were devil worshippers or something.

[JimSEA]

Maybe the baby died and they tried to cremate it

I wish an explanation such as "crib death" were likely. However, considering the fate of the still living child, it seems more likely he was tortured to death.

Detroit police investigating injuries to a one-year-old boy . . . [say] the allegation is the child was severely abused. He suffered burns over one-third of his body.

At least he is likely permanently out of this hell home.

[cowboyway]

Maybe the baby died and they tried to cremate it

Maybe they beat it to death.

[org.whodat]

Maybe the baby died and they tried to cremate it

Even so it is pure evil!

[Lady Jag]

They were collecting welfare on the dead baby

Police: Mom collected welfare in baby's name

November 26, 2007

By BEN SCHMITT

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

The mother of a baby whose skeletal remains were found in a Detroit basement was collecting welfare and food stamps in the child’s name, police said today.

Police are investigating possible welfare charges against Nickella Reid, 24, and her boyfriend Joseph Miller, 27, both of Detroit.

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Nearly two years ago, the son of Reid and Miller, Deuntay Miller, died in his parents care. They told police that they tried to cremate 1-year-old Deuntay in a barbecue grill to avoid funeral costs.

But police said Reid has been collecting welfare and food stamps in the name of Deuntay and four other children.

State Department of Human Services spokeswoman Maureen Sorbet confirmed today that Nickella Reid received $822 a month in welfare.

The bizarre discovery turned up Friday as Detroit police investigated injuries to another 1-year-old boy, who turned out to be Deuntay’s brother, police said.

Reid and Miller were arraigned Saturday in 36th District Court in Detroit on charges of first- and second-degree child abuse.

Police and prosecutors are weighing whether to add more charges in connection with the cremated baby.

Details of the 2-year-old death came to light Sunday as detectives continued to investigate the case.

The living 1-year-old suffered burns over one-third of his body. He is in fair condition, police said.

Police said Reid told investigators that Miller, her boyfriend, scalded their son in the kitchen in their home on Lillibridge in Detroit, causing the burns.

Reid then told police of her previous son's death and directed them to Miller's sister's home on Lappin, where Deuntay’s remains had been sealed in the ceiling. Officers from the Violent Crimes Task Force made the discovery Friday.

The parents' explanations differ as to how Deuntay died, police said. An anthropologist will try to determine the cause of death based on the fragmented bones.

Reid is being held at the Wayne County Jail on a $400,000 bond. Miller's bond on the child-abuse charges is $700,000, but no bond was set on unrelated drug charges, so he won't be freed from jail.