A California couple is facing murder charges after allegedly starving a disabled teenage relative to death and then fleeing the state, authorities have said.
Arrest and Charges
Sherwood Johnson, 37, and Megan Fredrick, 33, were arrested on April 16 in Liberty Lake, Washington, by members of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. The pair were wanted on a nationwide extradition warrant for charges of murder and child abuse causing injury or death.
Investigation Details
Investigators from the Sutter County Sheriff's Office in California began looking into the case following the death of the developmentally disabled 14-year-old in January 2025. The child, identified by prosecutors during Johnson and Fredrick’s first court appearance on Thursday as Fredrick’s adoptive sister, required round-the-clock care and was fed through a tube.
According to the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department, deputies arrived at an address in Live Oak for a medical aid call and found the teenager unresponsive. “Life-saving measures were attempted; however, the juvenile was ultimately pronounced deceased. Due to the suspicious nature of the circumstances, detectives responded to investigate,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Cause of Death
A coroner later found that the youngster’s cause of death was starvation and neglect and ruled a homicide. Fredrick and Johnson were identified as the victim’s primary caregivers, but were found to have relocated out of state. Warrants were issued for their arrests, and they were apprehended and returned to California on April 21. They are currently being held in Sutter County Jail.
“The death of a child is always tragic, and our hearts go out to the young victim in this case,” said Sutter County Sheriff Brandon Barnes. “Our staff assigned to Live Oak handled this case with professionalism and compassion. I am glad to see those responsible are in custody and will be held to answer on these charges.”
