Ladarrion McCray, 23, and his girlfriend, Emma Bradshaw, 22, could face life in prison if they are convicted
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NEED TO KNOW
- A U.S. soldier and his girlfriend are accused of starving their son to death while living at Fort Benning in Georgia
- The couple is also accused of neglecting three family dogs, including a dachshund that prosecutors allege died of starvation
- McCray and Bradshaw face eight federal charges, including felony murder and animal cruelty, and each faces up to life in prison if convicted
A U.S. soldier and his girlfriend have been indicted on federal charges after they allegedly starved their son to death while living on a military base and neglected three family dogs, one of which was found dead in the trash.
A federal grand jury returned eight criminal counts against Ladarrion McCray of Valdosta, Ga., and Emma Bradshaw of Carson City, Nev., on July 14, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and federal court records obtained by PEOPLE.
According to the indictment, the couple allegedly willfully deprived their son, identified in court records as “L.M.,” of “necessary sustenance” between Jan. 14 and Jan. 28 while living in military housing at Fort Benning in Georgia.
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The neglect resulted in the child’s death, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors also allege that the couple lied to special agents of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at the time, claiming that their son, whose age has not been released, showed no signs of illness before his death.
CID did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The indictment also accuses the pair of neglecting three dogs — a female dachshund, a male hound and a female Doberman — by allegedly failing to provide them with adequate food, water, sanitary conditions and ventilation.
Prosecutors allege that the dachshund died as a result of the neglect and that its body was found in a trash bin outside the couple’s home, while the two surviving dogs were found severely malnourished.
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The charges against the couple include felony murder, cruelty to children, making false statements and animal cruelty, among others.
If convicted, both McCray, 23, and Bradshaw, 22, face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
McCray and Bradshaw both pleaded not guilty to the original indictment, according to court records. Court records also show each was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.
McCray was an active-duty soldier who had recently been transferred to Fort Benning at the time of the alleged crimes, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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McCray is currently subject to discharge proceedings from the U.S. Army as a result of the alleged conduct, per prosecutors.
PEOPLE reached out to attorneys representing Bradshaw and McCray for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
