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Left: Tanya Boyd (Grant County Sheriff”s Office). Right: Ezekiel Sheppard (Obituary).
A mother is accused of starving her disabled teenage son in a troubling case out of central Indiana.
According to records from Grant County Superior Court, Tanya Boyd has been accused of neglecting a dependent, leading to serious bodily harm, categorized as a level three felony.
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In 2021, the Indiana Department of Child Services started an investigation into 17-year-old Ezekiel “Zeke” Sheppard due to concerns over malnutrition and inhibited physical growth, as reported by Indianapolis-based CBS affiliate WTTV.
In August 2022, Sheppard, who was around 17 years old and had cerebral palsy, was taken out of Boyd’s custody after he continued to experience “severe chronic and acute malnutrition.”
His weight was just 88.5 pounds, according to court documents reviewed by the outlet. Once Sheppard was sent to a children’s facility, he started to improve. His weight increased by 61% and he grew two inches.
In September 2023, the Indiana Department of Child Services reportedly reached out to the Marion Police Department in reference to Sheppard’s case. He died on June 11, 2025; it was unclear whether his death was related to the alleged neglect.
“Throughout his struggles, Zeke loved to have people talk to him. He loved county music. And he always had a smile on his face,” his obituary reads. “His constant companion was a stuffed alligator toy, which helped to position and support him in bed.”
The obituary notes that Sheppard is survived by his mother and father.
Boyd is set to go on trial on December 15, with a pretrial conference set for roughly a month before that. Earlier this week, she filed a bond form with the Grant County Probation Department, court records show.
Boyd is not currently listed as an inmate, according to Grant County Jail records. She is next due in court in November for a pre-trial conference.
The investigation in the case is still active, law enforcement say.
