A mother in Gresham, Oregon, has been given a 30-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to criminal mistreatment, ID theft, and tampering with a witness. Sharday McDonald, 30, was accused of waterboarding her child and placing him in a freezer as a test to see if the child’s father, Kendrick Neal, would take notice. The incident came to light on October 28, 2021, when police responded to a tip and visited McDonald’s apartment. Court documents reveal that McDonald could be heard screaming at Neal, stating that she didn’t care about the baby. Images of McDonald waterboarding the child were also discovered.
During the investigation, McDonald denied putting her baby in the freezer or attempting to harm or kill him. However, pictures obtained by the officer showed McDonald holding the baby upside down by his onesie while water was poured over his face. The officer noted that the baby appeared to be trying to hold his breath. McDonald later admitted that her actions were done out of spite and as a test to see if Neal cared. A doctor consulted by the prosecution stated that the infant was likely unable to breathe during the incident, which could have had fatal consequences.
McDonald received her 30-day jail sentence on Tuesday and is expected to be released on October 6.
