Texas – A Texas woman was ordered to spend the next four decades behind bars after pIeading guiIty in a Texas courtroom to murder and injury to a chiId in the death of her baby, with concurrent sentences on endangering a chiId and possession of meth The judge ordered that she must serve at least twenty years before she is eligible for parole, and court records note she will receive credit for time already served.
The conviction stems from the Nov.2023 incident at a local motel in Texas where her 3-month-old, Jakob, was found in dire condition and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Prosecutors said the baby died from starvation and neglect.
Police and child welfare investigators outlined the investigation that began when officers were dispatched to the woman’s at the Texas motel for an unresponsive infant. Officers found the family living in what they described as unclean and dangerous conditions. According to affidavits and reports, the baby appeared very thin and malnourished. He was taken to a local hospital, where medical staff could not save him. A doctor told police he believed the child died as a result of starvation and noted injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome; the child weighed about 10 pounds at the time of death.
Detectives documented the scene and collected evidence. They reported finding half a gram of meth and a drug scale in a backpack next to the bed. They also observed cockroaches in the area where one of the children slept and numerous knives and swords with exposed blades within reach of the couple’s 3-year-old daughter. Investigators further noted a lack of real food for the children and no baby formula for the baby, recording that the only food present was a few juice boxes and fruit snacks. These details were included in affidavits supporting the charges and in subsequent court filings.
Officials said Child Protective Services received a report about the infant’s condition and described the mother, 34-year-old SkyIyn Terk, as nonchalant during that visit, while the baby’s father, CharIes, was said to be playing video games. CPS took custody of the 3-year-old girl after the infant’s death. The same filings state the baby was born at about 7 pounds and weighed about 10 pounds when he died, reinforcing investigators’ conclusion that he suffered from prolonged neglect.
Investigators interviewed both parents. According to police reports and affidavits, the baby’s dad told officers he last used meth within the prior week and said the baby’ mom purchased meth two days before the child’s death. He stated that he and the woman intentionally possessed the meth in the hotel room with the intent to consume it. The man also told investigators that the infant had been sleeping between the couple, and that he awoke during the night to find the baby not breathing. He said he woke Tuerk, and 911 was called. First responders performed chest compressions and briefly detected a faint heartbeat en route to the hospital, where the infant was later pronounced dead.
The McLennan County District Attorney’s Office later pursued charges against both parents. A grand jury indicted Tuerk and Harris on four counts each: murder, injury to a child, endangering a child, and possession of methamphetamine. Tuerk ultimately pleaded guilty and received the 40-year sentence on the murder and injury counts, with concurrent terms on the remaining charges. Prosecutors said they were grateful she accepted responsibility and agreed to a punishment at the upper end of the range.
Harris’s case remains pending, and he faces the same counts that were lodged against Tuerk. Local reports indicate he is scheduled for further court proceedings, and he remains charged in connection with the infant’s death and the conditions police documented at the hotel. Authorities emphasized that the investigation findings—particularly the living conditions, the lack of nutrition and formula, and the presence of weapons and methamphetamine accessible to a toddler—were central to both the indictment and the ultimate conviction and sentencing.
The case record consistently refers to the infant as “Baby JJ,” with his full name listed in filings as Jacob Jeremiah Amon Harris. Officials said the combination of medical findings and scene evidence supported the conclusion that the infant died from starvation and neglect while in the care of his parents at the hotel.
