Mum let 3-month-old son starve to death in hotel room full of weapons and drugs

A mum has beenjailed after a baby died having been found “starving and looking like a skeleton” in a hotel room surrounded by knives and swords.

Skylynn Tuerk, 34, from Texas, pleaded guilty to murder, injury to a child, endangering a child, and possession of methamphetamine, following the death of three-month-old boy Jacob Jeremiah Amon Harris, widely known in the local media as Baby JJ. He was found in a Waco hotel room described by police as “unclean and dangerous” on November 29, 2023.

Officers said he was “starvingand looking like a skeleton” at the New Road Inn on interstate 35, and was with his three-year-old sister who was rescued from the scene.

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Officers reported cockroaches crawling through the room, raw meat left unrefrigerated, knives and swords within reach of the toddler, and drugs in a backpack. As well as half a gramme of methamphetamine there was also a drug scale in the room.

“There was no baby formula for Jacob,” court documents stated, reported KWTX. “The only food found for the children were a couple of juice boxes and fruit snacks.”

McLennan County Judge Susan Kelly sentenced Tuerk to 40 years in prison for the murder charge and 40 years for the injury to a child charge, with the sentences running concurrently. She will be eligible for parole after at least 20 years and received credit for more than 600 days already served in pretrial detention.

The case came to light after a third party contacted Child Protective Services, warning that Baby JJ had not gained weight and that Tuerk seemed "nonchalant" about the infant’s condition.

Meanwhile, the boy’s father, Charles Devin Harris, 28, was reportedly playing video games while the concerns were raised. In January 2024, both Tuerk and Harris were indicted on multiple counts. Harris’s case is still pending in pretrial proceedings.

Jonathan Sibley, Tuerk’s defence lawyer, reportedly said that she "was devastated by the loss of her child." He stated: "Skylynn and her family still grieve for the loss of their child, but are pleased to put this part of the process behind them.

"Skylynn and her family not only lost a loved member of their family, but, this family will also have to deal with losing Skylynn for a period of time while she is incarcerated. Skylynn’s family was represented in court today to support Skylynn and I’m sure they will continue to support her in any way they can while she is incarcerated.”

Tara Avants, a state lawyer, said that Tuerk "accepted responsibility and received a sentence in the upper end of the punishment range." She reportedly stated: "Legally, there is only a 10-year difference between a life sentence and a 40-year sentence.

"The horrific and irresponsible nature of this defendant's behaviour left us unwilling to agree to any lower punishment."