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'Looking like a skeleton': Mom 'nonchalant' as 3-month-old baby boy starved to death in 'unclean and dangerous''roadside hotel filled with weapons and cockroaches

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A Texas mother will spend several decades behind bars for allowing her 
3-month-old baby boy to starve to death at a hotel in Waco.

On Thursday morning, Skylynn Tuerk, 34, pleaded guilty to one count each 
of murder, injury to a child, endangering a child, and possession of 
methamphetamine, a controlled substance.

In turn, 54th District Court Judge Susan Kelly sentenced Tuerk to 40 
years in prison for the murder charge, 40 years for the injury to a 
child charge, and two years apiece for each of the remaining charges. 
Her sentences were assessed to run concurrently, meaning they will run 
at the same time. She will be eligible for parole after serving at least 
20 years.

The defendant will also receive credit for 633 days spent in pretrial 
detention, the court determined.

"We are grateful that this Defendant accepted responsibility and 
received a sentence in the upper end of the punishment range, while also 
removing the risks inherent in the trial and appeals process," McLennan 
County Assistant District Attorney Tara Avants said in a statement 
provided to Waco-based ABC affiliate KXXV. "Legally, there is only a 
10-year difference between a life sentence and a 40-year sentence. The 
horrific and irresponsible nature of this Defendant's behavior left us 
unwilling to agree to any lower punishment."

The behavior in question came to light on Nov. 29, 2023.

Police were called to the New Road Inn, a hotel located along the 
frontage road of Interstate 35. There, the infant Jacob Jeremiah Amon 
Harris was found dead — the result of prolonged starvation.

Responding to a call about an unresponsive child, the boy was described 
as "starving and looking like a skeleton," according to court records 
obtained by Waco-based CBS and Telemundo affiliate KWTX.

In local media accounts, the victim was widely referred to as "Baby JJ."

In the filthy quarters, police rescued Baby JJ's then-3-year-old sister. 
At the scene of the crime, officers described finding cockroaches, raw 
meat, knives and swords, and drugs in a backpack.

In January 2024, Tuerk and the boy's father, Charles Devin Harris, 28, 
were indicted on multiple counts related to Baby JJ's death.

The investigation into the family was brought on by a third party making 
a report about the child's welfare to Child Protective Services.

The CPS caller expressed concerns Baby JJ had not put on enough weight 
since his birth and described Tuerk as "nonchalant" about the issue. 
Meanwhile, Harris is alleged to have been "playing video games the 
entire time" the other person was in the room.

Arriving the next day — and by then too late — officers described the 
family as living in "unclean and dangerous" conditions, noting the 
bladed weapons were "within the reach of the 3-year-old girl."

Officers also said there was no "real food for the children" kept in the 
"unsanitary" hotel room "and there was no baby formula for Jacob," 
according to court documents. Rather, police alleged, the "only food 
found for the children were a couple of juice boxes and fruit snacks."

The father's case is still in the pretrial stage.

Tuerk's defense attorney provided a statement to local multiple media 
outlets after the sentencing hearing.

"This was a tragic situation, and Skylynn was devastated by the loss of 
her child," Jonathan Sibley said. "Skylynn and her family still grieve 
for the loss of their child, but are pleased to put this part of the 
process behind them. Skylynn and her family not only lost a loved member 
of their family, but, this family will also have to deal with losing 
Skylynn for a period of time while she is incarcerated. Skylynn's family 
was represented in court today to support Skylynn and I'm sure they will 
continue to support her in any way they can while she is incarcerated."

https://lawandcrime.com/crime/looking-like-a-skeleton-mom-nonchalant-as-3-month-old-baby-boy-starved-to-death-in-unclean-and-dangerous-roadside-hotel-filled-with-weapons-and-cockroaches/

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'Looking like a skeleton': Mom 'nonchalant' as 3-month-old baby boy starved to death in 'unclean and dangerous''roadside hotel filled with weapons and cockroaches Ron Macky <rmacky75@twc.com> - 2025-08-24 13:38 -0700
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