A Detroit couple was charged with murder and other crimes Wednesday in the death of a 5-year-old boy.
Ethan Belcher and other children were beaten while living in a house of squalor, assistant prosecutor Matthew Makepeace told a magistrate.
“The alleged facts in this case are extremely alarming,” prosecutor Kym Worthy said while announcing charges.
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Ethan was the son of Valeria Hamilton and stepson of Shane Shelton, both 27. They were ordered to jail without bond after hearing the charges, which include abuse of a 3-year-old boy.
Ethan was taken to a hospital Sunday where he was pronounced dead.
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It wasn’t immediately known if Hamilton and Shelton have lawyers who could comment on the allegations.
An aunt, Ashley Belcher, told Detroit-area TV stations that child-welfare authorities were told about problems at the home.