Muskegon, MI – An 11-year-old girlโ has died, and โฃher adoptive mother is facing scrutiny following an โฃincident at theirโฃ Muskegon County home. Sherryโฃ Leak, the mother, is โcurrently in custody,โฃ with the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office consideringโฃ further charges.
Leak initially called 911 to report the โincident. Preliminary reports suggested โa possible physical โaltercation occurredโ while โshe was attempting to restrain her daughter, Mialah. An autopsy has been completed, and detectives areโข continuing their investigation.
During Leak’s arraignment in Muskegonโฃ County District Court on Tuesday, โMuskegon County Prosecutor’s โฃChief Trial Attorney Mattโ Roberts stated, “This is obviously, as the Court is aware โคof, a very serious matter and doesโค involve the death of the young child in this case. Certainly, this does not appear to be a case where there’s any question about whoโฃ is responsible.” Roberts added that evidence indicated Leakโ admitted to sitting on Mialah, which appears to have caused her death. the prosecutor’s officeโ was still awaiting the โฃfull autopsy results at the time of the arraignment.
Child Protective Services has filed โa petition to terminate Leak’s parental rights regarding Mialah’s twin sister, who was hospitalized following Mialah’s death.โข
Leak isโค being held at โขthe Muskegon County Jail on a $100,000 bond and is represented โฃby a court-appointed โขpublic defender.Herโ next court appearance is scheduled for December 9 for a probable โคcause conference.
A neighbor told WZZM that Leak adopted the twins when they were young and described a frequently contentious relationship between Leak and Mialah,โ stating, “They fight a lotโฆI’ve seenโค some things I would rather not see, andโข I’ve heard thingsโ I’d rather notโค hear.”
