By Terry Oparka
C & G Staff Writer

STERLING HEIGHTS — The parents of a 20-month-old boy found dead in a suspected methamphetamine lab will likely remain in jail after a judge refused to reduce the $400,000 bond while the child’s cause of death is determined.

On July 23, 41-A District Court Judge Michael Sierawski adjourned the preliminary exams of Tina Marie Boughner and Andrew Marc Young for 30 days until police reports and the toxicology report on the boy’s cause of death are complete. Sierawski continued the $400,000 cash/surety bond. 

Boughner, who was arraigned on two 20-year felony counts of manufacturing a controlled substance and operation and maintenance of a lab, wept in 41-A District Court as her attorney, Carl McPherson, said she was “abso-lutely innocent.”

McPherson said that Boughner’s parents, who live in Houghton Lake, have care of her 7-year-old daughter. He said Boughner had two prior misdemeanor convictions for drunken driving and retail fraud. 

Young was arraigned on the same two felony counts, which carry 40 years each for him because of a prior conviction on drug charges.

William Daly, chief of the drug unit for the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, told Sierawski that police found the home on Betley Drive, in the 19 Mile and Clinton River Road area, in disarray and that the child had “significant diaper rash with blood-red, oozing sores, and was in a soiled diaper for a significant period of time,” when Boughner called 911 July 9 to report her son was not breathing.

Young’s attorney, Jeffrey Cojocar, said that Young had mental health issues and is under the care of a psychologist, but that Young is not responsible for his son’s death and disputed all charges against him.

“Everything at the house was legal,” he said. “Certain things together could create an illegal substance, but two ingredients needed for meth were not found.”

Cojocar said that Young told police he had a keen interest in chemistry and that chemistry books were in the home.

Daly said that he was concerned about the chemicals in the home and that there was no apparent explanation for the child’s death. He added that a wheelbarrow was found outside the couple’s home that contained ash and other burnt materials, which may be construed as evidence of a meth lab.

Sterling Heights police were called to the couple’s home approximately one year ago to check the welfare of the child, but no charges were filed at that time.

You can reach Terry Oparka at toparka@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1054.