In a distressing case, an Oregon mother has been handed a 30-day jail sentence following allegations that she subjected her infant to waterboarding and placed the child inside a freezer. The incident, which occurred in October 2021, led to a recent guilty plea from Sharday McDonald, 30, resulting in her sentencing.
Police were alerted to the situation when a concerned tipster reported Sharday McDonald’s apartment, prompting a welfare check. Upon their arrival, officers at the scene heard a tumultuous argument between McDonald and Kendrick Neal, the child’s father, inside their residence.
According to prosecutors, the attending officer discovered McDonald holding the infant when he entered the apartment. McDonald vehemently denied allegations that she had placed her baby in a freezer or endangered his life.
However, authorities disclosed the existence of incriminating images, which reportedly depicted McDonald engaging in the act of waterboarding the child. The officer described the harrowing images, wherein McDonald held the infant by his onesie while subjecting him to waterboarding. The officer stated, “It looked like [the baby] was trying to hold his breath while water was pouring over his face.”
During her transport to jail, McDonald reportedly confessed to her actions, claiming they were executed as a test to gauge Kendrick Neal’s reaction. She admitted that her intent was to compel Neal to return to the apartment, characterizing her actions as driven by spite.
Medical experts consulted by the prosecution expressed concerns that the infant would have been unable to breathe during the incident.
According to court documents, Sharday McDonald entered a guilty plea and was subsequently sentenced to 30 days in jail. She is currently held at the Multnomah County Detention Center.
