Inset: Sherry Leak (Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The Clover Estates Mobile Home Community in Michigan where Leak allegedly killed her adopted daughter (Google Maps).
In a disturbing case from Michigan, a 55-year-old woman faces charges in the tragic death of her 11-year-old adopted daughter. The mother, Sherry Leak, is accused of manslaughter after allegedly suffocating the child by sitting on her until she lost consciousness and died.
Authorities revealed that Leak was arrested over the weekend, following the incident involving her daughter, Mialah Leak. The charges were announced after a thorough investigation by local law enforcement.
The Fruitport Township Police Department issued a news release detailing that officers responded to a call about an unresponsive child at Clover Estates Mobile Home Park, located approximately 190 miles northwest of Detroit. Upon arrival, emergency responders found Mialah unconscious and not breathing.
Despite resuscitation efforts, medical personnel were unable to revive the young girl. Leak was taken into custody at the scene, although specific details about the incident were withheld pending a decision from the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office regarding further charges.
Deputy Police Chief Gregory Poulson shared additional insights with the Grand Haven Tribune. He stated that Sherry Leak herself made the 911 call and initial reports indicated a possible physical altercation occurred as she attempted to restrain her daughter. Poulson confirmed that the autopsy has been conducted, and detectives continue their investigation into the tragic events.
“Initial reports were that there might have been a physical altercation between the daughter and mother, even in regards to the mother trying to restrain the daughter,” he reportedly told the paper. “We have been in close contact with our prosecutor’s office and getting some direction from them. Unfortunately, the 11-year-old did pass away, and there was an autopsy conducted today. Our detectives are continuing to investigate this incident.”
Prosecutors provided a more detailed summary of the allegations against Leak when she appeared for her arraignment in Muskegon County District Court on Tuesday morning, including how Mialah allegedly died.
“This is obviously, as the Court is aware of, a very serious matter and does involve the death of the young child in this case. Certainly, this does not appear to be a case where there’s any question about who is responsible,” Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Chief Trial Attorney Matt Roberts told the court, according to Grand Rapids ABC affiliate WZZM. “At least the evidence at this point has led us to the conclusion that the defendant in this case, by her own admission, did sit on the child, and that appears to have been the cause of death here.”
The prosecutor did note that his office was still waiting on the results of Mialah’s autopsy, which had already been conducted.
Since Leak’s arrest, Child Protective Services filed a petition seeking to strip Leak of any parental rights to Mialah’s twin sister. The surviving child was reportedly hospitalized following Mialah’s death.
Leak is being held in the Muskegon County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bond, records show. The court appointed a public defender to represent Leak, who is currently scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 9 for a probable cause conference.
A neighbor told WZZM that Leak adopted the twins when they were very young, but claimed Leak and Mialah had a very contentious relationship.
“They fight a lot,” the neighbor told the station. “Okay, I’ve seen some things I would rather not see, and I’ve heard things I’d rather not hear.”
The neighbor added, “You live in a trailer park. You see every[thing], you hear everything in it.”
