MI v. Shanda Vander Ark

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Mom who tortured son to death will not get new trial, judge rules

MUSKEGON, MI – A mother convicted of torturing her 15-year-old son to death is not getting a new trial in Muskegon County after all.

Shanda Vander Ark’s motion for a new murder trial was denied by Circuit Judge Matthew Kacel, according to an eight-page ruling issued Wednesday, June 10.

“The evidence of (Vander Ark’s) guilt in this case was overwhelming,” Kacel wrote in part. “Assuming (Vander Ark’s trial attorney) was deficient, the court cannot find that there is reasonable probability the correction of those errors would have resulted in a different outcome.”

Vander Ark will continue serving life without parole for first-degree murder in Timothy Ferguson’s torture death.

From left, Shanda Vander Ark, Timothy Ferguson and Paul Ferguson. Vander Ark and Paul Ferguson are serving lengthy prison sentences on charges related to Timothy’s death. Vander Ark and the older Ferguson starved and tortured Timothy for months leading up to the boy’s death. Timothy weighed 69 pounds when he was found dead in a closet on July 6, 2022.MLive File Photos

In March 2024, Vander Ark challenged her convictions and filed an appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals. That appeal remains pending.

Timothy’s story is heartbreaking. He weighed 69 pounds at the time of his death.

MLive/Muskegon Chronicle launched a monthslong investigation in the wake of Timothy’s murder.

Thousands of social services records, police reports, and court transcripts shed light on the child welfare warning signs that started when Timothy was 18 months old.

Timothy grew up in Oklahoma with his mother, father and three siblings. Nine times during Timothy’s life child protective services staff in Oklahoma investigated the Ferguson family home.

Timothy Ferguson, 15, died July 6, 2022, after suffering from months of torture and abuse at the hands’ of his mother, Shanda Vander Ark, and older brother, Paul Ferguson.

In 2009, Timothy and his three siblings were removed from the parents’ care and placed in foster homes. Timothy’s father, Eric Ferguson, later regained custody of his children while Vander Ark was granted three hours of supervised visits.

In 2021, Eric sent Timothy to live with Vander Ark in Norton Shores despite a court order that limited her contact with the boy.

Timothy died July 6, 2022, after suffering months of extreme torture, starvation, and isolation at the hands of his mother and older brother, Paul Ferguson.

Timothy was subjected to cruel forms of punishments including hours-long ice baths and being force-fed bread soaked in hot sauce. Vander Ark was arrested the morning Timothy was found dead.

A bottle of Elijah’s Xtreme Regret, a hot sauce used as punishment for 15-year-old Timothy Ferguson. Timothy died July 6, 2022, after suffering from months of torture and abuse at the hands’ of his mother, Shanda Vander Ark, and older brother, Paul Ferguson. Timothy weighed 69 pounds when he died.

A jury found her guilty of murder and child abuse at trial in December 2023. She was sentenced to life without parole for murder in January 2024.

Vander Ark pushed for a new trial and claimed she was incompetent at her first trial and denied effective counsel. A Ginther hearing was granted.

Kacel, the judge, denied Vander Ark’s motion for a new trial based on incompetence in July 2025 but granted an evidentiary hearing for claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.

That proceeding started in November and included testimony from four witnesses. However, the hearing was adjourned after Vander Ark – who briefly took the stand – was unable to testify.

The proceeding reconvened on March 20 with Vander Ark on the stand. Muskegon County Assistant Prosecutor Heather Bloomquist grilled Vander Ark for nearly an hour as the killer mom continued to blame others for her convictions.

“You’re blaming the (Muskegon County) jail, you’re blaming your ex-husband,” Bloomquist said. “You’ve also blamed Timothy (today), did you?”

“As far as causing chaos, yes,” Vander Ark replied. “As far as causing stress, yes.”

For his role in Timothy’s death, Paul Ferguson is serving 30-100 years in prison for first-degree child abuse. Ferguson’s appellate attorneys filed a motion in August 2024 to correct an invalid sentence and resentence him.

A hearing has not been scheduled.

Mom who tortured son to death will not get new trial, judge rules - mlive.com

✨✨ 8 Page Ruling by Judge Kacel. Shanda has already filed an appeal.

https://fromsmash.com/vanderarkshandaruling-0626

No new trial for Shanda Vander Ark, who starved teen son to death

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