Mother Arraigned on Murder Charges for April 25 Death of Three-Year-Old Son
(OCSO, June 15, 2024)
Pontiac, MI – A Flint mother was arraigned on a felony murder charge today in the April 25 death of her 3-year-old son. Latonya Shante Thomas, 27, is being held in the Oakland County Jail on a $1 million bond set by 50th District Court Judge Ronda Gross.
Thomas is also charged with child abuse – first degree.
She is accused in the death of Zaveion Thomas.
“Some of the most horrific cases that we see in law enforcement deal with an abusive death of a child,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “It’s hard to imagine someone injuring such a precious young life, and those who abuse a child must be held fully accountable.”
Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a 911 call at a residence in the 100 block of Perry Place on the report of an unresponsive 3-year-old male. Upon their arrival, deputies saw Thomas attempting to perform CPR on the toddler. Paramedics transported Zaveion to the hospital where he was ultimately pronounced deceased.
An autopsy later revealed the child sustained injuries consistent with an assault. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Through the course of the investigation detectives determined that the child’s mother had assaulted him, causing the injuries that resulted in his death. Thomas was arrested without incident Thursday in Flint by the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Team. Her next court date is a probable cause conference on June 25 before Judge Jeremy Bowie.
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