A Macomb County mother was sentenced Wednesday after pleading no contest to murdering her 2-year-old son.
Sierra Zaitona and the child’s father, Jonathon Matthew Cheek, were charged with second-degree murder in 2023.
Cheek pleaded no contest and was sentenced in December 2024 to 24 to 50 years in prison.
Zaitona’s case was set to go to trial, but she later changed her plea to no contest.
She was sentenced to 24 to 50 years in prison.
Boy found dead in crib
Officials said the parents found their biological son dead in his crib in March 2023.
The child was examined by a coroner, who determined that he had died from starvation.
“I’m so angry people could actually do that to a child,” Prosecutor Molly Zappitell said in 2023. “I think this baby needed someone to watch out for him, and nobody was looking out for his interests, and that needs to change.”
“I would like to thank the Clinton Township Police Department for their hard work during this investigation in the child’s death,” Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said.
