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- 2026-10-17 21:34
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Where's Where's the dad? Where's dad at? >> He's avoiding coming back. And I think he's >> What's his name? >> I think he knew this morning when he left was gone. >> When's the last time that you knew of that Zen was alive? >> Yesterday. >> Yesterday. When? >> Yesterday morning. >> How do you know? >> Before I went to stream, I made sure. This is Sierra Zaitona and police were speaking with her after a 911 call brought officers and emergency crews to this Clinton Township home. She said her 2-year-old son had been fine that morning, but as officers began asking simple questions about the day, the answers became harder to understand. What started as an emergency call soon raised questions when officers reached the door. Hey, come on. Yeah, LET'S GO. >> BRING THE BABY OUT HERE. JESUS. >> Just to get him out of >> Yeah, that was far back. They're pretty far on him. >> Just wait. Wait till the If you guys are pretty He's pretty far gone. >> Give it to the You put the dogs in the room. >> Yeah. As long as there's nobody in there for one second. Let's go. Bring it. >> Last time he saw this child was yesterday. >> He was really big. >> Make sure there's nobody in there. Get the dogs in there and then get her back out. >> Where? And and two. >> Can you find out where the kid was at and keep the dogs out of that area? >> She's been aing just come out here. >> Dispatch, we can close that one out. We're not going to be able to get to it. >> David, dispatch, we're going to need a boss out here ASAP. >> Cover. That's a monkey. That's a monkey. >> Stay back. >> We're not [ __ ] that goes on over here. They know we're not okay. They don't seem >> What happened? Hey, hey, hey. Stay right there. Sit down because sit sit. >> They've seen it all in this house. >> Who? >> John. >> Who's John? >> John's the dad. He's the man that was >> out of here. >> Get the out of here. >> Out of here. >> I already said that, too. I've been trying to get away from him and be and save up and half the time he's like, "No, you sit there." >> You want to see You want to see? >> Did you see Sierra? >> Yes, I see her. >> You did? No. Look now. >> Look. >> That is That's your fault. >> I know. Oh, yeah. I can't work. He's been He had control of my punishment. I JUST GOT control of my mother. Two kids. >> There's two more in there. There's two more in there. >> Baby's been baby's been for about a month, it looks like. >> Yeah. Right there. >> I'm going through the neighbors. >> Come on. >> Go down there right now. >> Anybody else inside? >> There's two more kids in there. >> Uh this way. Watch her. >> There's nothing in here. >> Zero. >> That's been That's been a week. >> I'll just Yeah. >> Christ. How old? >> I don't know. >> I thought it came out as 2 years. >> The child was Zaden. By the time first responders arrived, there was nothing that could be done to save him. It began with an emergency response, then moved into the careful work that happens after an unexpected child. Officers securing the scene, detectives asking questions, medical examiners reviewing the evidence and prosecutors deciding whether the facts supported criminal charges. >> She's in the house screaming, dude. It's like aing hoarder house. There's two other kids in there. This kid's all emaciated. Looks like it's been for weeks. >> Oh yeah. Tiny little child. She's in there justing inconsolable. He's got her in the back of my car right now. >> The female. >> The female. Yeah. She's got two other kids here. FD had them over here. But dude, it's aing mess in there. I I just I Chang went back with her to take the the two dogs that are running loose out here back in. There's nobody else in the house. She's out here. We got nobody. >> Uh the kids SG had them somewhere over here. The two kids >> are >> the kids still on the porch here. They're like, "Dude, this this kid has been at least a week." >> Okay. >> So, I told them just they wanted to move it. You know, we brought the other kids out. They wanted to move it. I told them, "Leave everything as it is." >> All right. >> So, everything is as it is. They brought the kid out from one of these back bedrooms here. I'm going to assume the one that had the crib in it. >> They brought her out and and laid her out. >> And then I went to work and I said, "We're leaving your And I've been grinding and grinding. I finally got his car, which he's controlling it. He's using it right now. >> Where's the child? Where's Where's the dad? Where's dad at? >> He's avoiding coming back. And I think he's >> What's his name? >> I think he knew this morning when he left that Zan was gone. >> When's the last time that you knew of that Zan was alive? >> Yesterday. >> Yesterday. When? >> Yesterday morning. How do you know? Before I went to stream, I made sure he was having fun. Some of these you feel a little bit bad, but my god. No, she Yeah, >> we come on her all the time. She goes, "Not anymore. Drugs." >> Not anymore, guys. >> I I got to I got to assume this is going to be the end of this one. >> Mountain right now is his mommy. >> What's his name? >> Jonathan. Can you grab the phone where I have to >> We'll grab it for in a little bit. Okay. >> Okay. Is >> it's not like we don't believe you. Okay. You just got to give us some time. Okay. >> Nothing's going to bring him back. [gasps] >> It was already hard enough to want to live. They were my only motivation to get us out of here. And now >> What do you mean? >> What do you mean? What do you mean there's nothing that's going to bring him back? What do you mean by that? >> My baby. I tried. I was breath. I was breathing. He's is black. What is that? What is it? What is that? What is that? He looks like he choked and threw up or something. What was that color? He had to have known. Even when I called him and I said, "He's cold. There's no way he didn't know." Mom's driving him. Why? Cuz where's MY CAR? WHAT HAS HE done in my life? Why could I not escape? [crying] I imagine. >> Hey, hold on. Hold up. Who Who are you? >> Okay. Do you live here, too? >> Yes, I do. >> Okay. >> Real quick, you got your ID on you? >> Did she call you or something? >> Yeah. >> What? [crying] When's the last time you seen uh Is that your son? >> Yeah. >> When's the last time you seen him? >> This morning. >> This morning? >> Okay. How was he this morning? >> Fine. >> Okay. Um what time did you see him this morning? Roughly >> about 12 a.m. >> p.m. Okay. What was he doing at that time? >> Sleeping. >> Sleeping. Wow. Where >> what room specifically was he sleeping in? >> The first bedroom right here. >> This bedroom right here. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um Did you pick up the baby at all or what? >> What was your interaction with the baby? >> Rub his back. He moved a little. >> Got readjusted. >> Nothing out of the ordinary for you though. Okay. You remember what he was wearing? >> Just his diapers. >> Just diapers. >> Okay. Um, and about what time did you leave here? >> About 2 230. >> 2 2:30. >> 2:30 p.m. Yeah. >> Okay. Where'd you go from there? >> I went straight over to my dad's house. We're wearing the bricks of her car. >> Okay. >> We're going to do it before the snow. >> Okay. >> Didn't have enough time. >> Okay. Um, and you live here. >> Okay. How long have you two been living here? >> About 3 years. >> About 3 years. >> Okay. Did the baby wake up at all or cry today while you were home? >> Cried this morning. >> Cry this morning when when you were here. >> Okay. >> I was supposed to go to to an orientation for work. What the [ __ ] >> Okay. Who else lives here with you? Just me, Sierra. >> That's Sierra right here. >> Damian, which is her oldest. >> Uh, how many other kids you guys have? >> That's just babysit her oldest. >> You babysit her oldest? >> Yeah, >> that's the oldest live here also. >> Just only a few. Just maybe a few. >> So, it's just you, Sierra, and >> How many kids do you have with her? >> Two. >> Two. What's And you you told my partner what the name of the two were. >> And then we babysit her oldest. Uh the the was everything. >> Um we're still investigating. >> Yep. Anything in your pockets that you know about? >> Okay. >> Nothing that's going to cut us, poke us. >> No. >> Okay. No drugs or anything in your pockets? >> You said no. >> I got it. >> Turn to face your house. Put your hands behind your back. Um, I wanted to introduce myself. I talked to you at the scene briefly. My name is Detective Hill, and this is my partner, Detective Smith. Okay. And who your child was. Okay. >> When was the last time John had a full-time job? >> Oh my god. Practically never, dude. Never >> like >> Well, let's let's go back. >> He's never even held a job over a month. >> Okay. And why is that? >> He don't want to. He's admitted that he just don't want to. >> Okay. Who who pays the bills over there? >> His parents did. And then now because I'm trying to leave him, he made his parents stopped. They don't help him. And on top of it, he don't do it. And now I'm put in a position like cuz now ever since the LA like ever since I started doing the streaming and trying to leave him, he's made everything 10 times harder. >> What kind of What do you mean by streaming? What do you mean? streaming is the only kind of work that I can do. Like where you just sit there on a camera, you talk to people, you play games. I've ran 30 hour streams, 12 hour streams, 16 hour streams, just running myself dry, sitting there, chilling with 300, 500, 600 people on camera, getting them to send me gifts and everything else cuz those gifts can be converted into money so we can get out of here. And that like was the only way I could think to have some some sort of suitable income for now to get us out of here. Is any of that you said that streaming stuff does any of that involve any kind of stuff? >> No. >> Um, it's >> I regretted [clears throat] not. [snorts] I regretted not. I wished I did because I was like, damn, maybe I would have made more money. >> So, how much money would you bring in a month in regards to streaming >> in a month? Um, well, between also people sending me money off the line, which was Matt. He's very helpful. Uh, I know we at least made more than 5 grand. We had to have at least made five grand more than that. So who cares for the kids all day? >> Well, [clears throat] >> are they in school? >> No. Thing one won't get his like together. He won't get his together. He won't make the calls. Well, he did now only because during me deciding to step up against both of them and out them. One of the times he tried to use his control pun. Oh, I'm going to come get him and I'm going to take him with me. And I flipped out. I I pulled up on him and I exposed him in front of his girlfriend. >> Okay. I'm I'm I'm talking about John right now. Okay. >> Oh, yeah. It was that was about the school park. >> In the last two years, how how often would you care? Does he >> years drop him off while he's working to you? >> That's it. Like now, now that he's working, he's only been working these past two months. Before that, he had no job and he'd be in and out of jobs just like John. He's not much better, but he is better. >> Okay, let's let's circle back to John. It's kind of what I'm alluding to in school because this dad won't do anything. >> His dad's crap >> and and you haven't you you haven't participated in enrolling him in school or anything. >> I'm not able to from what I'm told. Like I'm I have no legal guardianship >> because he is in custody. Okay. I don't I don't know. That's why I'm asking. So forgive me if I'm not trying to insult you by any way, shape, or form. >> So um now >> in your care all the time, correct? Yes. >> Okay. So you're home all day? >> Yes. And is John home all day with you? >> Yes. Okay. >> That's why I asked if somebody had grabbed those phones because if you guys look in those phones, there's pictures from Halloween. There's pictures that they're all healthy. They're all good. Like everyone like once I started work and everything with him, all he does is play video games. He doesn't want to clean. He doesn't want to I get the food. You just got to give him the food. The food I pulled out yesterday, the chicken that was thrown ended up right back in the fridge. Like I'm just trying to work to get us out. And like I've always done everything. The cooking, the cleaning, bending over backwards in my house, this this this that I'd show up and he's got my son's got ash on him and watching Five Nights of Freddy's all this other but for both of them. So I I hit that point of like I'm going to work and get us out of here. You can do something. >> Sure. >> Kind of walk me through a typical day that you gave him a bottle. Is that like a sippy cup or like >> No, it's more like a uh his bottles like he likes to drink so much >> that I have a water bottle from military school is about eight tall. >> Mhm. >> We fill that about here. >> Okay. And what do you fill it with? >> Some mashed potatoes. He's got his own little oatmeal, dry milk. Mix that all together with some water. Okay. >> Give it to him. >> And does he like it? >> He downs it. >> Okay. And then does he um does he ever ask for more? >> Oh yeah. >> Okay. And do you make him another bottle? >> Did you like >> No, I shortened the bottle of melon that I get try to give him some solid food. That way he's continuing to work on his motor skills. >> I gotcha. Um would he prefer to drink would he prefer to eat out of a cup rather than do like solid foods? >> Okay. And then did he ask for seconds today or did he want another bottle or something else to eat? He just had that one. He just had that one and then just went right to sleep. >> Okay. And that is that would you say that's a typical morning for him? >> Okay. And do you know like what he ate um like the day before? >> Last night he had two bottles. So I put saltine crackers in there for him. He ate those last night cuz they're empty this morning. So I refilled those cuz he likes crackers. If I had Rits, I'd be using Rits. But so for like a solid food, >> solid food I don't want to go for vegetables, mashed potatoes, green beans, you know. >> Okay. >> Almost. >> And then >> mac and cheese. >> So you said yesterday he had two bottles. >> After I got home from doing all my running for work, >> fun jobs and everything. >> Okay. Um, when you're done streaming, do you have any interaction with your family with with >> It's not been healthy for a long time. A lot of the times there would be a lot of fighting or everything else and he'd be like, you know, go, go. I don't want to see you get the [ __ ] out of here. You guys leave now. I'm like, how are we going to leave now? Like after I was like, you know, we're leaving. We're done. Everything else like that. It started blowing up into fights like that and him pushed me, get out my face, this, this, this, that, and running into the bathroom, slamming the door, this and that. >> Okay. >> And like he would not up until the minute he was like, you know, I admitted what I did. He was like very I don't know. His breakdowns kind of like stopped after that. >> Saying what you admitted. >> What is it that you're you're alluding to? What are you What are you trying to telling me? >> Well, like >> Well, what it's what he said to me and what he said to his mom. Okay. >> Like him not feeding him when he was telling me that he is and this and that. >> All this that he was lying. I was like, >> when did you find out that he wasn't feeding him? >> Back in March. Well, that that was the confirmation. I already kind of like had a suspicion, but he's sitting here like, "No, he got a metabolism like mine. He's just he just eat." I'm like, "No, there's no way." Cuz when I'm taking care of everything, he was just fine. >> And you say you're taking care of everything. What does that mean? >> Taking care of everything. Running myself thin, taking care of John up, the house, food for both of them, doing everything for every not No, not just both the kids, both the men. >> Okay. was was showing signs of of of John telling you that he was intentionally not feeding him. Um what did you do then? I started taking over and like feeding him and everything else and set and setting food out like okay this is out feed him the PJ I said okay when I asked him okay did you finish feeding him the half because I he like when I started feeding him I noticed okay like he can't hold down much so like half of his PBJ I put back in front of the microwave I went back to work end of the night the PBJ is gone so I asked him did you give him the rest yeah and I'm sitting there like okay he did not >> did you did you to see how he was responding to the food that you were you were giving giving him >> he like when I was feeding milk. >> And how were you mixing the cereal for him? You said you were putting it in a bottle. Was he drinking it or was he eating it? >> I was putting in the bottle. >> Okay. And he would drink that. >> Mhm. >> Okay. And when he was drinking that um >> he was and also he was throwing up. I did notice that like he was throwing up. That's one of the reasons I told him make sure like you take it certain amount of time and that's why I was in and out and everything else there. I've checked on him sporadically in between. That's why I said like >> like if he were to tell you he was hungry, how would he communicate that? >> He would scream and then if you mainly is all about his emotional he just shows facial features on what he wants. >> When the last time you stood there and scream like that >> last night. >> Did it last night? >> Cuz I woke up with him this morning. >> What time last night did you do that? >> 10 o'clock. >> 10 o'clock at night. >> And then what? That wasn't that's not normal for him, but I made sure I'm like, "Okay, look, what do you want?" Checked on him. He's like, "Okay, you don't need to change your diaper." All right. You want a bottle? Scared about that. Said, "Okay, here." >> So, last night at 10, you went in there, >> gave him one last bottle of the night. And after he drank that, he went to sleep. And I went to provide prep to remake the one for the morning. >> Uh, how many times did you give him a shower from his birthday until today? >> Um, I It's been like five days. It's been five days or more. Yeah, it's been five days or more. >> So, you haven't showered him in five days? >> Yeah. No. >> Okay. Um >> I legit tell him like this and this needs done and it's my fault for even leaving it on him either. >> What What prompted you to call 911 today? What happened today? >> I seen him looking. >> Okay. And how did >> I save him? I wanted him to come home. I wanted him back. I couldn't believe that I'd been trying so hard that [snorts] I had not paid attention that I'd let that happen. That's what >> How did you How did you find him like that? Where was he at? >> In his bed, like legit laying like this and his eye was open at first. So, I seen him and then when I seen his eye black, I scooped him up really fast and I'm like, he's likeing dead. They said not to move him and I was like, well, that's already too late. >> Okay. [snorts] Which bed was he in? Because there was no bed in the room that he was staying in. >> There's no bed. >> Is there a bed in the room? >> There was a bed. >> You said the center. Can you just Is it a crib or is it a bed? >> Yeah, it's a crib. >> Okay. Can you >> There's no sheet on it like there should have been. And it's 100% like this. It's gross. It's got food and stuff on it. >> When two days ago when you checked on him um and he was sleeping shirtless without pants and just in his underwear, how did he look? He still looked bad but not like that. >> He looked bad but not like that. Can you define what what bad means? >> Where I can see your bones at all. >> Okay. So, you're saying that you could see his bones? >> Mhm. >> Okay. And um [snorts] did you phone 911 at that time to get him help? >> I checked to see if he's breathing. detect to see if he's alive. [snorts] And then after that, >> was he breathing and alive at that time? >> So 2 days ago when he checked on him, he wasn't. >> Oh, no. I thought you meant today if you call Oh, no. I told you why I didn't call 911 sooner. >> Okay. All right. >> And what was it about yesterday that that you said something is not right? >> Just because he only had that one bottle all day. I put food in there for them, but it didn't get, like I said, it didn't disappear till that night. >> Okay. >> So, I was like, "Okay, >> what other food did you put in there besides you said just a bottle, but you had other food?" >> Saltine crackers in there. Our last can of green beans. I made some pizza, cut some off for him, put them in there for him. Noticed a few pieces were on the floor. That's about it. And I would go back in there and see if he hated. If he didn't eat, I would touch him. We could set him up, check him, eat a little bit, but he just wouldn't. >> Did you think at some point of taking him to the pediatrician and getting him checked out for like a dietitian or get him some help with basically putting weight back on? >> I was hoping to do that today. >> Okay. >> That's why I was trying to get the brakes done. I didn't want to put the kids in a car that I don't even trust driving myself. So, you said that you were concerned and that today you were going to call, but you wanted to get the brakes done first. >> Um, who were you going to call? >> I was just going to go straight and take him straight to Henry Ford. >> That's the fastest response. I probably >> the hospital. >> Yeah. >> Was there any thoughts of calling 911? >> She didn't want uh when she not until she called me. Like I said, cuz we don't got insurance for the kids yet. due to me losing my job. It was on the company. >> Insurance is one thing. But I mean, if your kid needs treatment, you know, whether you have insurance or not, your kid's going to get treated. You know that, right? >> Yeah. It's just my way of thinking. Got to know what I know that >> there is there is no greater gift than than a mother giving birth to a child. Okay? You carried that little boy in your womb for 9 months. Okay? There is no greater gift than that. Okay. And you had a tough tough pregnancy, right? You admittedly in Uranus that you because you were in a lot of pain. Okay. I was scared of losing him then. >> You're scared of losing him, right? But he he was born, right? And it's a mother's instinct. It's a mother's instinct to take care of their of their children. Okay. And what I find incredibly hard to believe and hard to fathom, hard to fathom is that on his birthday, on his birthday, this little boy looked like that and you never got him help because you were selfish and you were afraid that he was going to be taken away from you and now he's not with us anymore. Right? But I want to know I want to know because that he didn't show those signs at his birthday. They were before that and you knew they were before that. >> I was called by Sarah tell me I needed to come home and they didn't tell me nothing. >> Well, I'm telling you right now that I looked at your son today and it looks like he hasn't eaten in a very long time. And I'm asking a simple question. Okay. Was Was he hard to feed? >> No. Did you Sometimes he became picky on the food he ate. >> Did you have food to feed him? >> Yeah. >> Did you feed him? >> The only like I said, the only thing you wanted was that bottle. >> Okay. And what was in the bottle? >> Mash the mashed potatoes, his dry milk, and his infant oatmeal. >> Okay. But looking at your son, there's not it's not possible that he was fed that much food within the past couple weeks. probably maybe not even for the past couple months. That's that's what I'm trying to get from you is just to try to get what's really going on with >> and all I know is what I've been able to do for him. >> I don't know what she's done or not. >> Let's let's let's be honest, okay? We're talking manto man here, right? >> Okay. Like he just said, you've got 50 some years of experience >> right here sitting in law enforcement and doing investigations. Okay? And I can tell you now that him and I looking at your son today have never seen a child that malnutritioned. You understand what I'm saying? >> Yes, sir. >> So, now let's let's I know what you're trying to do, okay? Be honest with me, okay? When is the last time he's ate a good meal and you fed him? >> That was two days ago. I'll tell you the truth on that. >> What was that good meal two days ago? I made I made a roast when I got home, too. >> Okay. So, two days ago he had a good meal. >> Mhm. >> And that's you saying, "Hey, I'm being honest with you." Your son hasn't ate in a while. Let's be honest. Okay. Cuz I looked at him and I can guarantee you two days ago he couldn't eat based on how he looked today. Two days ago he could not take and put food in his mouth. >> Do you know that? >> He did though. >> He did not. Well, it's it's a certain bond that you have with your children when you carry them, right? And and especially when you know that your child is is is ripped, is skin and bones, isn't eating, is vomiting. You're you said 5 days ago he's all crusted cuz he puked all over himself. >> Yeah. >> Um and you know, I I just I I just want to understand >> I broke and the fear of losing him in any way is too much. And I ended up making the wrong decision and completely lost him. >> And thank you for sharing that. Like I just want all I ever wanted was my babies and me to be together and be happy. That's why I fought those two years. That's why I did what I did. That's why I was terrified to lose him. I just really didn't think I really didn't think that his would be capable of just not and that he would lie. Well, this >> I really I don't >> Sierra, this is this unfortunately is is uh this is um I know it's of two parents, not just him and >> responsibility of two parents. I've been the only one since day one. >> Okay. >> And he couldn't do a single dime. >> Well, do you have anything else, Detective Smith? >> Like >> I did my best. Like I failed though. >> Okay. Um >> I could have done better. I should have called him help. I appreciate that. I thank you for that. >> I don't care if you appreciate it. Doesn't bring him back. It doesn't fix anything. It doesn't take back anything. It doesn't fix the decision. It doesn't tell me where I should have made a better decision. Not just then, but way before then. Because all my mind can think of is where down the timeline could I have made a decision to where this would have never even became a thing. I've questioned myself, should I have even started fighting to leave him? If I would have just stayed with him, stayed obedient, this wouldn't have happened. >> Well, you >> if I would have just kept cleaning the house, kept taking care of everybody >> that that house you needed. You called 911 today. You had access to three phones. You spent 30 hours a day, you know, um you know, talking to people on the interweb and doing all that stuff. You had every every opportunity to call 911 to get medics there. You saw in a matter of lick in a lickety split second, you had FD, you had four police cars there that were trying to save a kid that was already deceased. >> That's the problem. >> I get that. And you're only looking at the end of the day. You're looking at him. >> Stand up for me. Stand up for me. >> Turn off. Put your hands behind your back. >> All right. >> You're under arrest for child abuse in the first degree. >> That's Zaden's was caused byation. That conclusion came from the medical examiner. According to the Mcome County Prosecutor's Office and local reporting, Sierra Pearl Zona and Jonathan Matthew Cheek were charged with secondderee and secondderee child. Stay vigilant. Stay recorded. This is Badge Files.
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