Mio Campbell and Aki Dillard, parents of the deceased 6-year-old boy, Elijah Dillard, are currently facing murder charges for the death of their son. But they are now also faced with the potential termination of their parental rights, with regard to their other three surviving children. Thier three remaining children are in state custody while Campbell and Dillard are jailed and awaiting trial.
On Feb. 27, 2014, Elijah was found by his mother, apparently unconscious, on the kitchen floor of their home, after a “whooping” administered by Dillard. Dillard believed that the boy was not hurt, but acting in order to get CPS to remove him and his siblings from the home. In order to revive him, Dillard put him in the shower and sprayed him with water for about 10 minutes. According to Campbell’s testimony, he didn’t realize it was extremely hot water until after he had turned it off. At this point Campbell called 911.
The Department of Human Services filed a petition in probate court seeking to terminate parental rights for the couple in the wake of Elijah Dillard’s abuse and death. The petition states that during the course of the investigation, officials found old linear marks, old bruises and old burns on Elijah’s 7-year-old sister. In addition, the couple’s 2-year-old daughter appeared to have a perforated hymen, and the 7-month-old daughter had suffered from severe diaper care neglect and as a result, had redness in her vaginal area.
Saginaw County Probate Referee Dennis M. Grimaldi read the petition in court, which included the following information: “Elijah Dillard was transported to Covenant hospital by (Mobile Medical Response) in a state of cardiac arrest. While at Covenant hospital, Elijah was observed to have burns to approximately 21 percent of his body, bruising and other injuries on his body. The burns that were observed on Elijah Dillard’s body are consistent with burns that were caused by exposure to extremely hot water.” Elijah was declared brain dead on March 1st, and was taken off life support.
An autopsy was performed on March 3rd by the Saginaw County Medical Examiner Kanu Virani, who determined that Elijah died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and abdomen, in addition to the burns caused by scalding water.
During a status conference on May 1st, it was agreed upon by all parties involved that proceeding to a parental rights termination trial before a judge instead of a jury, was preferable. The trial is scheduled to start on June 5, and is expected to last five days. The trial will be presided over by Saginaw County Probate Judge Faye M. Harrison, who has just recently endorsed the Dillard children’s lawyer, Kent Greenfelder, to replace her when her term is up this year.
Dillard is facing a first-degree premeditated murder charge, in addition to charges of felony murder, torture, and first-degree child abuse. Both murder charges carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. He may be convicted of both charges. Dillard is currently jailed without bond. Campbell is facing one count of child abuse and is jailed on a $5 million bond.