NC man enters plea in son’s death

TARBORO, N.C. — A North Carolina man whose 13-year-old son died after being tied to a tree has entered a plea to second-degree murder in which he acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Graham said Monday that Brice McMillan entered an Alford plea at a hearing in Edgecombe County Superior Court. The Alford plea means McMillan does not admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors may have enough evidence to convict him.

McMillan and his wife, Sandra McMillan, were arrested in June 2008 on charges of murder and felony child abuse after their son, Tyler, died of dehydration and heat stroke after being tied to a tree overnight as punishment.

Graham said McMillan will be sentenced after his wife’s trial in July.

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