Waco, TX – District Judge Susan N. Kelly sentenced Charles Devin Harris to 40 years in prison for the death of his 3-month-old son, Jacob Jeremiah Amon Harris. Harris pleaded guilty to charges of injury to a child, endangering the welfare of a child, and possession of methamphetamine.
The sentence requires Harris to serve a minimum of 20 years before becoming eligible for parole. Kelly’s ruling follows a plea agreement in which prosecutors dropped a murder charge against Harris.
Harris’ sentence is similar to the 40-year sentence handed down to the victim’s mother, Skylynn Tuerk. The case centered around an incident on November 29 at the New Road Inn motel in Waco, where the infant was found deceased due to severe neglect.
A welfare check led police to the motel where they discovered Jacob’s lifeless body exhibiting signs of prolonged starvation. A 3-year-old sibling was also found in the motel room, which authorities described as filthy and hazardous.
The investigation into the family’s living conditions was initiated after a report to Child Protective Services raised concerns about Jacob’s weight gain since birth. Witnesses indicated that Tuerk was indifferent to the child’s needs, while Harris reportedly spent time playing video games when assistance was sought.
Upon their arrival at the motel, officers noted a lack of adequate food, with no baby formula available for Jacob. The unsafe environment included accessible knives and harmful conditions posing serious risks to the children.