Shanda Vander Ark and Paul Ferguson were accused in the death of Shanda Vander Ark's 15-year-old son, Timothy Ferguson, who police found dead and severely malnourished inside the family's home. Shanda Vander Ark Vander Ark, who had been working as a law clerk for the Newaygo Circuit Court up until her arrest, was guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse charges. Her eldest son Paul Ferguson was guilty of one count of first-degree child abuse in his brother's death. Timothy Ferguson, weighed just 69 pounds when he was found on July 6, 2022 in an ice bath, dead, malnourished and showing significant signs of abuse. A medical examiner determined the boy died from malnourishment and hypothermia. As punishment Shanda Vander Ark and Paul Ferguson allegedly subjected Timothy Ferguson to ice baths, restrained him with shackles and zip ties and starved him for a month. Paul Ferguson admitted giving his younger brother an ice bath the day before his death, leaving him in the tub for at least four hours. Paul testified against his mother and said he did it only because Vander Ark told him to. Paul Ferguson pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree child abuse and was sentenced to 30-100 years in prison. Shanda Vander Ark was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus an additional 50 to 100 years in prison for murder and first-degree child abuse for the July 6, 2022, death of Timothy Ferguson. Now Shanda Vander Ark is requesting a new trial claiming she never authorised her attorney to say to the jury that she 'committed manslaughter. [Vander Ark] caused this boy’s death, but [she] didn’t intend to'. Judge Kacel has said that if Vander Ark did not authorize her attorney to concede guilt to voluntary manslaughter, 'That is a pretty significant issue which many times leads to reversal and a new trial if that can actually be proved true'.