An Arizona couple has been sentenced to prison for their role in the death of an 11-year-old special needs boy, who was neglected to the point of fatality. Ariel Lea Horn, 34, and her boyfriend, Charles Jackson McClellan Jr., 30, were handed down sentences of seven years and three-and-a-half years respectively. The time they have already spent in jail, approximately 10 months, will be deducted from their sentences.
The case came to light in November 2023 when Tucson police were called to a residence on East Limberlost Drive following reports of an unresponsive child. Upon arrival, paramedics from the Tucson Fire Department pronounced the boy dead at the scene. The investigation was then handed over to detectives from the Child Physical Abuse Unit.
The detectives’ investigation revealed that the boy, who was entirely dependent on his caregivers due to his special needs, was suffering from a multitude of medical conditions. Horn, the boy’s mother, and her boyfriend McClellan were his primary caregivers. An autopsy revealed that the boy had developed numerous lesions on his lower body, which led to sepsis. The identity of the boy has not been made public.
The police stated that the lesions on the boy’s body were a result of neglect and lack of proper medical attention from Horn and McClellan. The couple was also found to be heavy users of fentanyl. Three other children were living in the same household.
School officials had previously raised concerns about the boy’s health when they noticed the sores on his body. They insisted that he needed medical attention before he could return to school. However, the couple failed to take the boy to his scheduled doctor’s appointments. The police noted that the boy was often left in the same position for extended periods, creating an environment conducive to bacterial growth and skin breakdown, leading to the development of sores and lesions.
Horn and McClellan were arrested on May 1 on charges of first-degree murder and child abuse. In January, they agreed to plead guilty to intentional child abuse, a third-degree felony, as per court records.