MILWAUKEE (WTMJ) – A Milwaukee man has pleaded guilty to multiple charges in the death of his 12-year-old son, who prosecutors say was tortured before his decomposing body was found by his older brother.
Romuan Moye, 45, pleaded guilty Thursday to the following charges in the death of his 12-year-old son, Jacarie Robinson: first-degree reckless homicide, chronic neglect of a child resulting in bodily harm and failure to report the death of a child.
Authorities say Jacarie’s decaying, malnourished body was found wrapped in a blanket on the couch at home last October amid filthy, squalid conditions. The home smelled overwhelming of mold, feces and decay, according to a criminal complaint.
“He was confined to a living room by his own father, a person who is supposed to love him, care for him, raise him, keep him safe, provide for him, slowly tortured him and killed him,” said Deputy District Attorney Matthew Torbenson in court.
Investigators say Moye admitted that Jacarie died on October 3, 2023. His older brother found his body seven days later.
“A sight that not only haunts the brother but, quite frankly, it haunts members of the Milwaukee Police Department that I met with who went into that house, who observed this,” Torbenson said.
Judge Laura Crivello is among many people who still can’t wrap their heads around what happened. She sentenced Moye to over 47 years in prison.
“I don’t understand this at all. It’s unconscionable,” she said in court. “In my 30 years, the most vicious and aggravated thing I have ever seen. You are the highest level of dangerousness.”
Jacarie’s mother, Yalawn Robinson, also said she can’t believe how much her son suffered.
“When I read Jacarie’s autopsy, I could not believe it,” she said in court.
Moye’s attorney read a letter to the family on his behalf.
“What I did to my youngest son was not my best at all, and it really hurts me that I could do something like that to my son,” the letter said.
The family can try to move forward now that Moye will spend decades behind bars.
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