Aunt and uncle arraigned today in murder, abuse case of 4-year-old

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (WXYZ) - A Highland Park woman and her husband have been charged with premeditated murder in connection with the death of her young nephew. They were arraigned Thursday at 11:30 a.m.

Matilda Brown Gardner and her husband Randy Gardner are both being charged with first degree murder, felony murder and child abuse for the starvation death of four year old Robert Byrd.

A jury of family members blasted them as they showed up to court.

Matilda Brown Gardner shook her head no as she and her husband were charged with the murder of 4-year-old Robert Byrd.

Afterward nearly a dozen of Matilda’s closest relatives disowned her.  “If you didn’t want the baby why didn’t you give him to nobody in the family.  I could have even took the baby.  You’re rude, you all is rude and I hope you die in jail. Both you all” said Denise Brown, Matilda’s cousin.

Matilda's uncle said "as I look at my niece in the courtroom, a whole lotta things went through my head and one of them was how could you be that sick to kill your own blood."

The boy was left in the Gardener's care in 2007 when his mother, who was Matilda's sister, died.

Robert weighed twenty-four pounds when he died. For his age he should have weighed at least forty.  The Wayne County Medical Examiner says he died of  starvation and neglect.

Prosecutor Kym Worthy says this case ranks "right up there with the worst we've ever seen."

Robert's body was found on the couple's kitchen floor in Highland Park early Mother's Day.

Robert and his older brother had been living with his aunt, her husband and their kids since their mother passed away a few years ago.

If convicted, the Gardners face life in prison without parole. 

Below are a series of resources on child abuse.

- Recognizing and preventing child abuse

- Michigan Professional Society on the Abuse of Children

- Get help or report child abuse in the U.S. or Canada

- Read the Michigan Child Protection Law