Parent Guilty of Murdering 1-Year-Old in Tuscola County

When you think about the most horrific crimes a person could commit, the murder of a child has to be right at the top of that list. It's hard to even imagine there could be something worse.

The only thing that could possibly make it worse? If the person responsible is the child’s own parent.

That’s exactly what happened in Tuscola County, where a parent has been found guilty of murdering their 1-year-old child.

I find this topic not only hard to talk about, but extremely difficult to write about. There’s nothing easy about it. It’s heavy, brutal, and heartbreaking. And honestly, it’s one of those things where no matter how you try to put it into words, it just doesn’t feel like enough.

How do you even begin to explain something so awful?

Tuscola County Parent Charged With Murder

According to WNEM, in February 2024, Brian Stewart Elswick was charged with the murder of his child after first responders were called to the home following reports of an unresponsive baby. The child was taken to the hospital but tragically passed away two days later.

While on scene, a deputy noticed signs of abuse and neglect. The following day Elswick was arrested.

He was charged with one count of open murder, one count of first-degree child abuse, and three counts of lying to a police officer.

Earlier this week he was found guilty of all five counts. He will sentenced on May 22.

It's so heartbreaking to think of what that child must have gone through while fighting for its life. Now that child is gone, the family destroyed, and the father will more than likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.

There are just so many questions about what happened that we'll never get the answers to.