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.

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I agree tie her to a tree. People in my area know her... and his family. They all say he was never the same after he met this woman - she was very controlling with him and his child. However her child never did ANYTHING wrong and was certainly never tied to a tree - I think she is guilty of murder and I think he is guilty of being the BIG P word making him guilty of his sons death too. Dont doing something to stop this crime is just as bad as commiting it. Poor boy...I can only imagine he died wondering what he had done to deserve this and wondering how his own daddy could betray him...hopefully, he is with his mama now...

maddiesmom972
March 12, 2009 11:18 a.m.

"Superior Court Judge Milton Fitch ordered that Sandra McMillan must live with her cousin in Cary and wear a monitoring device."

I bet the cousins neighbors are really excited about the new addition to the neighborhood.............!!!

parr4246
March 12, 2009 10:37 a.m.

This woman should not be out of jail. Where's the justice.

lucky22
March 12, 2009 10:26 a.m.

I can't believe the State of North Carolina would let this woman out on bond. Why didn't they just tie her to a tree while she's awaiting trial. Oh, I know, it would be against her constitutional rights - her stepson on the other hand had no rights What a system we have.

Boo
March 12, 2009 10:00 a.m.

THROW HER BACK IN JAIL! That is the ONLY place that she needs to be. Guess the only consolation for us is that she will have to meet her maker and answer for her sins.