Bond set for stepmother of boy who died tied to tree

TARBORO, N.C. — A Superior Court judge on Wednesday set a $200,000 bond for a woman charged with murder in the death of her 13-year-old stepson, who died after being tied to a tree overnight.

Sandra McMillan pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, felony child abuse, aiding and abetting murder and aiding and abetting felony child abuse.

McMillan and her husband, Brice, are accused of tying up Tyler McMillan overnight last June for being disobedient. The teen also was tied to the tree the next night, and Sandra McMillan found him unresponsive the following afternoon.

An autopsy determined Tyler McMillan died of dehydration and heat stroke.

Judge Milton Fitch said that, if Sandra McMillan posts bail, she must live with her cousin in Cary and wear a monitoring device. She also wouldn't be able to have any contact with her daughter, who lives in Florida with her grandparents, aside from a specified number of phone calls that the grandparents would monitor.

Brice McMillan has waived arraignment and has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and felony child abuse. He remains in the Edgecombe County Jail with no bond.

Prosecutors have filed notice with the court that they don't plan to seek the death penalty against either Sandra or Brice McMillan.

Fitch set a July 6 trial date for the case.