Murder of Mary Welch
{{Short description|Murder perpetrated by Seth Welch and Tatiana Fusari}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Murder of Mary Welch
| location = Solon Township, Kent County, Michigan, U.S.
| date = August 2, 2018
| image =
| caption =
| time =
| timezone =
| type = Child neglect, starvation, dehydration
| victim = Mary Welch, 10 months old
| perps = * Seth Welch
- Tatiana Fusari
| motive = Child abuse, religion
| verdict = Both found guilty
| convictions = Murder, child neglect
}}
The murder of Mary Anne Welch (October 23, 2017 – August 2, 2018) was perpetrated by her parents Seth Welch and Tatiana Fusari. Mary, a 10-month old infant, died of malnutrition and dehydration in Solon Township, Kent County, Michigan on August 2, 2018. Both parents were convicted of first-degree murder after Mary's death was attributed to neglect.{{cite news |last1=Van Gilder |first1=Rachel |title=Mother gets life in prison for baby’s starvation death |url=https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/mother-gets-life-in-prison-for-babys-starvation-death/ |access-date=9 October 2022 |work=WOODTV.com |date=17 November 2021}}
Background
Child Protective Services had been in contact with the family dating back to 2014 after THC was found in the system of their eldest newborn child.{{cite news |title=Man accused in child's neglect death says charges unfair |url=https://apnews.com/article/ce407fa925c041f3a59d9a00fe95671a |access-date=9 October 2022 |work=AP NEWS |date=10 August 2018 |language=en}}
Mary Welch weighed only {{convert|8|lbs}} at the time of her death, only {{convert|1.25|lbs}} more than at the time of her birth ten months earlier.{{cite news |last1=Donnelly |first1=Francis X. |title=Couple charged with death of daughter could lose two other children |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/11/20/seth-welch-tatiana-fusari-death-mary-welch/2072337002/ |access-date=9 October 2022 |work=The Detroit News |date=20 November 2018}} In People v. Welch, it was stated that, "the autopsy of the child showed visible injuries to the child's lungs, heart, abdominal organs, as well as a shrunken thymus gland and bone marrow incapable of producing white or red blood cells. An expert testified that this confirmed that the child died from malnourishment and dehydration.”People v. Welch, No. 357501, (Mich. Ct. App. Nov. 10, 2022) While the parents were aware their daughter was underweight, they refused to seek medical assistance. The couple cited religious reasons and a lack of trust in the medical system.{{cite news |last1=Bever |first1=Lindsey |title=A 10-month-old died after her parents refused to get help for religious reasons, police say |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/08/08/a-10-month-old-died-after-her-parents-refused-to-get-help-for-religious-reasons-police-say/ |access-date=9 October 2022 |work=Washington Post |date=8 August 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Raphelson |first1=Samantha |title=Michigan Child's Death Puts Spotlight On Clash Between Medicine And Religion |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/08/31/643407967/michigan-childs-death-puts-spotlight-on-clash-between-medicine-and-religion |access-date=9 October 2022 |work=NPR.org |date=31 August 2018 |language=en}} At the time of Mary's death, two of the couple's three children had never been to a licensed doctor.
The county sheriff testified that the family home was unhygienic during the initial investigation. He cited evidence of vermin, insects, and mold. The doctor who performed the autopsy stated that the infant was suffering from chronic malnutrition, which he believed was caused by the withholding of food and water. Following the death of Mary, CPS sought to terminate the parental rights of the couple.
Aftermath
File:Seth Welch and Tatiana Fusari.png
The couple was initially charged with homicide felony murder in August 2018. The video of their reaction to the charge subsequently went viral.{{cite web |title=Couple Stunned After They’re Charged With Murder in Death of 10-Month-Old |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQrdA73Ty_A |website=YouTube |publisher=Inside Edition |access-date=9 October 2022 |language=en |date=8 August 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Lamb |first1=Jerry |title=Woman Sent to Prison for Murdering Infant Daughter Whose Eyes Police Described as 'Sunken Into Her Head' |url=https://lawandcrime.com/crime/woman-sent-to-prison-for-murdering-infant-daughter-whose-eyes-police-described-as-sunken-into-her-head/ |website=Law & Crime |access-date=9 October 2022 |language=en |date=17 November 2021}} In June 2020, Seth Welch was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.{{cite news |title=Father sentenced to life in baby daughter’s death |url=https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/father-sentenced-to-life-in-baby-daughters-death/ |access-date=23 February 2023 |work=Wood TV |date=20 May 2020}} In 2021, Fusari testified that her husband was abusive, and would rape and beat her. She stated that she was not permitted to take her daughter to a doctor,{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Jacquelyn |last2=Van Glider |first2=Rachel |title=Mother charged with baby’s murder tells jury she was abused |url=https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/mother-charged-with-babys-murder-claims-abuse-by-childs-father/ |access-date=9 October 2022 |work=WOODTV.com |date=12 October 2021}} and blamed the abuse for not being able to provide care for Mary.{{cite news |last1=Agar |first1=John |title=Mom of starved baby to testify that husband’s abuse kept her from caring for her, attorney says |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2021/10/mom-of-starved-baby-to-testify-that-husbands-abuse-kept-her-from-caring-for-her-attorney-says.html |access-date=9 October 2022 |work=mlive |date=11 October 2021 |language=en}} However, Fusari claimed she did not notice that Mary was unhealthy, and did not know what caused her death.
In November 2021, Fusari was also sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for first-degree murder. She was additionally sentenced 15 to 30 years on the charge of first-degree child abuse.