A 27-year-old Michigan mother and her 34-year-old boyfriend are facing several child abuse charges connected to the death of her 7-month-old son, Maverick Lyle Bouck. Authorities say the infant died from severe injuries that were discovered after first responders were called to a home in Greenwood Township on the evening of May 4.
Elizabeth Lynn Lanor Hogan and Devin Austin Brown-Fowler, who share an address in Hartford, have each been charged with one count of second-degree child abuse, third-degree child abuse, and fourth-degree child abuse. According to the Oceana County Prosecutor’s Office, the most serious charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, according to the County Press.
Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast confirmed that investigators found extensive trauma on the baby’s body. Maverick had three skull fractures, three broken ribs, and a brain bleed, injuries that ultimately led to his death. The child’s grandmother, Aimee Camp, said the loss has devastated the family. Camp, who is Hogan’s mother, believes her daughter bears greater responsibility for the baby’s death, noting that one of the skull fractures was an “older fracture.”
Camp also shared that she currently has custody of Hogan’s 7-year-old daughter. Questions have been raised about why the pair are not facing more serious charges, such as murder or manslaughter. Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon explained that the evidence did not meet the legal threshold required for those counts. “Murder and manslaughter charges include an element of intent related to desired outcomes. The evidence does not support such a conclusion,” Bizon said.
The prosecutor added that he cannot provide further details before the case reaches court, citing professional conduct rules. “MRPC 3.6 and 3.8 limit my ability to make any public comment on a case that has not been to court,” he noted.
Hogan and Brown-Fowler were arraigned on November 24, and both remain in the Oceana County Jail. Hogan’s bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety, while Brown-Fowler’s bond was set at $50,000. Their preliminary examinations are scheduled for December 9 at 1 p.m. in the 79th District Court.
The investigation into Maverick’s death remains ongoing as authorities prepare to present the case before a judge.
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