Get notified by email when this case is updated.
Written by: A. Smith
Published March 21, 2025 @ 1:36 PM ET
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – A Decatur man and his girlfriend have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the death of his five-year-old daughter.
Unchinna Myrick, 28, pleaded guilty Wednesday to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of first-degree cruelty to children, the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Her plea comes nearly a year after Cedric O’Neal Herring, 30, was convicted in September of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, and two counts of first-degree cruelty to children.
The case stems from the May 29, 2021, death of Herring’s daughter, Janiyah Herring.
According to investigators, Herring carried the unconscious child into the emergency room at Emory Decatur Hospital, claiming she had been injured in a multi-vehicle crash. He told hospital staff his daughter had been knocked unconscious in the collision and had not regained consciousness.
A nurse quickly realized the child was not breathing and rushed her into a treatment room. Despite an hour of resuscitation efforts, doctors were unable to revive her.
Medical staff discovered Janiyah’s body was covered in bruises and injuries consistent with abuse, authorities said. Hospital officials contacted DeKalb County police, the medical examiner’s office, and the Division of Family and Children Services.
When questioned by investigators, Herring provided details of the alleged car accident. However, police determined no such crash had occurred, nor had Herring been driving the vehicle he claimed was involved.
According to the district attorney’s office, Herring later admitted to occasionally hitting his children with a belt as a form of discipline.
An autopsy determined Janiyah died from blunt force trauma and ruled her death a homicide.
Investigators later spoke with Herring’s other children, who revealed that Janiyah had refused to help clean the house on the day she died. Authorities said Myrick then beat the child with a cord and, when she attempted to flee, tied her to a bed and continued the assault.
At some point, Myrick untied Janiyah, and the child collapsed onto the floor. Prosecutors said Herring entered the room, yelled at her to get up, and when she did not respond, he also beat her. Realizing something was wrong, he attempted to revive her by placing her in an ice bath before driving her to the hospital.
In October 2024, Herring was sentenced to life in prison. Myrick was sentenced to 50 years, with 30 to be served in custody and the remainder on probation.