Authorities arrest two suspects after autopsy confirms starvation of fourteen year old

Two caregivers have been arrested and charged with murder following the death of a 14-year-old girl with developmental disabilities who was allegedly starved to death.

Megan Fredrick, 33, and Sherwood Johnson II, 37, of Live Oak, California, were taken into custody on 16 April 2026 on charges of murder and child abuse causing death.

The arrests stem from an incident in January 2025, when deputies from the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office responded to a medical assistance call at the couple’s residence.

Upon arrival, authorities discovered the teenager unresponsive; she was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene.

Due to the "suspicious nature of the circumstances," detectives launched an intensive investigation into the girl’s living conditions.

The sheriff’s office revealed that the victim required round-the-clock care and was entirely dependent on a feeding tube for her nutrition.

Following a comprehensive autopsy, officials determined that the girl’s cause of death was starvation and neglect, leading the coroner to rule the manner of death as a homicide.

Sutter County Sheriff Brandon Barnes described the case as "tragic" and praised his staff for handling the sensitive investigation with professionalism and compassion.

Fredrick and Johnson, who had since moved out of California, were apprehended on outstanding warrants in Washington.

They are currently being held at the Spokane County Jail as they await extradition to Sutter County to face the formal charges. It is not yet clear whether the suspects have retained legal representation.

The local community remains shaken by the details of the prolonged suffering experienced by the vulnerable young victim.