Father accused of murdering son faces judge
Posted: Nov 15, 2011 1:57 PM EDT | Updated: Nov 6, 2014 1:40 PM EDT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The father accused of murdering his 10-year-old son and beating his 14-year-old son appeared in court on Tuesday morning for an initial hearing.
Terry Sturgis, 35, is charged with three felony battery and murder charges after Metro Homicide investigators said they found Tramelle Sturgis unresponsive at the home on the 1100 block of West Washington Street on Nov. 4.
Police said it was the worst case of child abuse they had ever seen.
Court documents show Sturgis duct taped and bound the boy’s hands and beat him for hours.
The 14-year-old survived, but was hospitalized for days.
Friends, family members, neighbors, and classmates of Tramelle told ABC 57 his father had a history of beating the children in the home. They said the boy would miss several days of school, and show up to class with broken bones and bruises. They said Tramelle always made up excuses.
On Tuesday, Sturgis walked into the courtroom wearing an orange jump suit and shackles around his feet just after 8 a.m.
He was being held without bond at St. Joseph County Jail prior to Tuesday’s initial hearing.