Mom collected welfare in name of baby burned in grill, police say

The Detroit News reports:

The mother of a baby whose skeletal remains were found in a Detroit basement was collecting welfare and food stamps in the child’s name, police said today.

Police are investigating possible welfare charges against Nickella Reid, 24, and her boyfriend Joseph Miller, 27, both of Detroit.

Nearly two years ago, the son of Reid and Miller, Deuntay Miller, died in his parents care. They told police that they tried to cremate 1-year-old Deuntay in a barbecue grill to avoid funeral costs.

But police said Reid has been collecting welfare and food stamps in the name of Deuntay and four other children.

State Department of Human Services spokeswoman Maureen Sorbet confirmed today that Nickella Reid received $822 a month in welfare.

The bizarre discovery turned up Friday as Detroit police investigated injuries to another 1-year-old boy, who turned out to be Deuntay’s brother, police said.

Reid and Miller were arraigned Saturday in 36th District Court in Detroit on charges of first- and second-degree child abuse.

Police and prosecutors are weighing whether to add more charges in connection with the cremated baby.

Details of the 2-year-old death came to light Sunday as detectives continued to investigate the case.

The living 1-year-old suffered burns over one-third of his body. He is in fair condition, police said.

Police said Reid told investigators that Miller, her boyfriend, scalded their son in the kitchen in their home on Lillibridge in Detroit, causing the burns.

Reid then told police of her previous son's death and directed them to Miller's sister's home on Lappin, where Deuntay’s remains had been sealed in the ceiling. Officers from the Violent Crimes Task Force made the discovery Friday.

The parents' explanations differ as to how Deuntay died, police said. An anthropologist will try to determine the cause of death based on the fragmented bones.

Reid is being held at the Wayne County Jail on a $400,000 bond. Miller's bond on the child-abuse charges is $700,000, but no bond was set on unrelated drug charges, so he won't be freed from jail.

No word yet form liberals who don't like hearing stories about welfare and "welfare queens" on this sick story.