Guilty pleas in Mich. boy's death, grill cremation

[March 25, 2009]  DETROIT (AP) -- A Detroit couple accused of trying to cremate their slain 2-year-old son on a barbecue grill and then collecting his welfare benefits have pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors.

Twenty-eight-year-old Joseph Miller pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder and 23-year-old Nickella Reid pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and welfare fraud.

Police found the remains of 2-year-old Deuntay Miller while investigating the 2007 scalding of the couple's 1-year-old son, Nicholas.

Reid faces up to 15 years in prison at her April 7 sentencing.

Miller faces up to 50 years at his April 16 sentencing. Before the plea deal he had been charged with first-degree murder and if convicted would have faced life with no possibility of parole.

[Associated Press]

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