UMVA has learned that a devastating crime has shaken a Wisconsin community, resulting in the brutal killing of a 5-year-old boy, whose disappearance led to a change in state law to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The case involved an 18-year-old man, who was just 15 at the time of the crime, and has now been sentenced to life in prison for his role in the horrific murder. He will not be eligible to petition for release for 50 years, a testament to the severity of the offense. The young victim, Prince McCree, was reported missing after his mother allowed him to play video games in the basement of their home, where the perpetrator also lived.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the events of that fateful day unfolded when McCree's mother couldn't find him later that day, prompting her to contact the police. The following morning, authorities discovered the child's body in a dumpster, roughly a mile from his home. The investigation revealed a shocking tale of violence, with the perpetrator admitting to choking McCree and striking him multiple times with a golf club.
The case took a turn when surveillance video showed the perpetrator and his accomplice carrying a white garbage bag through an alley on the day McCree disappeared. Cellphone GPS data later contradicted their initial alibi, leading to the accomplice directing police to the location of McCree's body. The accomplice has since been sentenced to life in prison, and the case has prompted a new law, known as the Prince Act, to broaden the state's missing-child alert system.
During the sentencing hearing, McCree's parents delivered heart-wrenching victim impact statements, expressing their grief and outrage. The boy's father wished for the perpetrator to face the ultimate punishment, while his mother simply stated that her "baby didn't deserve anything," highlighting the vast age difference between the victim and the perpetrator.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the perpetrator declined to address the court during sentencing, leaving the community to grapple with the aftermath of this heinous crime. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable members of society and the need for swift justice in the face of such atrocities.
The sentencing brings a sense of closure to the community, but the memory of Prince McCree will live on, and his legacy will continue to inspire change. The Prince Act, a direct result of this tragedy, will help prevent similar cases in the future, ensuring that no family has to endure the pain and suffering that McCree's family has faced.
