Stepmother of boy who died tied to tree released on bond

TARBORO, N.C. — A woman charged with murder in the death of her 13-year-old stepson, who died last June after being tied to a tree overnight, has been released on bond, authorities said.

Sandra McMillan posted a $200,000 bond Monday. She pleaded not guilty in January 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.

Superior Court Judge Milton Fitch ordered that Sandra McMillan 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 remains in the Edgecombe County Jail with no bond.