Pharaoh Ezra Leon Ford, a 6-year-old boy from Hagerstown, Maryland, died of starvation after being deprived of food and water by his father, Andre Derek Ford, age 31. On November 28, 2023, police responded to a report of an unresponsive child at the family's apartment and found Pharaoh deceased on a bare linoleum floor; preliminary autopsy findings indicated he had been dead for more than 24 hours, possibly two days. The child appeared emaciated, weighed approximately 32 pounds, and had bruising all over his body, open sores, and burns suspected to be cigarette burns. A 5-year-old sibling was also found in the home with similar injuries and malnourishment and was hospitalized. Andre Ford was charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death, first-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injury, and neglect of a minor, and was held without bond. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide by starvation.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The Herald-Mail article reports the boy had "bruising all over his body" and "open sores and burns suspected to be 'cigarette burns.'" Additionally, Ford admitted to police that "he spanked the boy for his rebellious actions."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
The medical examiner report lists the cause of death as "Starvation" with injury description "Child was deprived of food and water." Multiple news articles confirm the child was "suffering from severe malnutrition and starvation." The Herald-Mail article notes the boy weighed about 32 pounds and "appeared emaciated."
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Multiple news articles state that Ford "failed to provide proper care and medical treatment for the child." The Herald-Mail article further states Ford told police "he last took the boy to a doctor about a month ago," indicating the child was not receiving adequate ongoing medical care despite his deteriorating condition.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
The evidence strongly supports prolonged, deliberately cruel treatment. The ME report rules the manner of death as homicide with cause of death being starvation from deprivation of food and water. The prosecutor stated "Starvation is a long, tortuous death that takes weeks." In addition to starvation, the Herald-Mail article describes: "bruising all over his body," "open sores and burns suspected to be 'cigarette burns,'" a room that was bare with no furniture other than a pillow, and the child weighed only about 32 pounds. The second child in the home had "similar injuries" and was also malnourished. This pattern of intentional starvation combined with physical cruelty (cigarette burns, bruising) over an extended period constitutes deliberate, prolonged cruel treatment.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Andre Derek Ford is identified as the child's father in all sources. The obituary confirms: "he was the son of Andre Derek Ford and Cortney Markiewicz." Ford was arrested and charged with 1st-degree child abuse resulting in death. The investigation determined he "failed to provide proper care and medical treatment for the child," and the ME report rules the death a homicide by starvation from deprivation of food and water.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
The obituary states: "He was preceded in death by his infant brother, Titus Ford." This indicates a prior sibling death in a separate incident from the current death.
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Andre Derek Ford, 31, was arrested and charged with "1st-degree child abuse resulting in death, 1st-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injury, and neglect of a minor" per multiple news articles. He was ordered held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Herald-Mail article states: "Bronson also said Ford had previously seen a counselor for mental health treatment. While Bronson told the judge he didn't want to disclose details about the mental health treatment due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, he said Ford had since reached out to the counselor due to the distress from losing his child."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details not fully addressed by the preceding questions emerge from the text. The Herald-Mail article describes that a 5-year-old sibling was found in the home with "similar injuries," malnourished and not fed, and was taken to Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C. The boy's room was completely bare with no furniture—only a pillow on a linoleum floor. Ford offered self-serving explanations to police, claiming the boy "had been acting out and refused to eat because he wanted his biological mother back in his life" and that there was no furniture because the boy was "rebelling against Ford's new marriage and damaging the items." Preliminary autopsy findings indicated the boy "was dead for more than 24 hours before police arrived, possibly for two days." The boy weighed only about 32 pounds at age 6. The obituary also reveals a previously deceased infant sibling, Titus Ford, raising questions about the family's child welfare history. Ford's reference to a "new marriage" implies a stepmother figure whose role and awareness of the children's condition is unaddressed in the available documents.
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