Skip to main content

Michigan mother charged with murdering toddler son whose body was in freezer

Azuradee France, mother of the child found in a freezer in the basement of her Detroit home. (Source: Detroit Police Department via CNN) Azuradee France, mother of the child found in a freezer in the basement of her Detroit home. (Source: Detroit Police Department via CNN)
Share

A mother in Detroit has been charged with murder after the body of her 3-year-old son was found in a freezer Friday, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

The child's mother, Azuradee France, 31, was also charged by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy with first-degree child abuse, torture and concealing a death, which are all felonies, officials said.

France was arraigned Sunday and pleaded not guilty, the prosecutor's office told CNN.

The child's body was discovered early Friday after police officers responded to the home to conduct a wellness check, Detroit Police Chief James White said at a news conference Friday. The officers found the child's body decomposing in a freezer, White said.

Investigators said they are unsure at this point how long the child's body was in the freezer or when or how he may have died. The medical examiner's office ruled the boy's death a homicide, police said.

"The alleged facts in this case have astounded even the seriously jaded," Worthy said in a statement.

Five other children who lived in the house were checked at a hospital and were being placed into custody of Child Protective Services, police said.

France remains in custody, and her next hearing is scheduled for July 8, the prosecutor's office said.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING

BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants

Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.

Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence

During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.

Local Spotlight