On October 25, 2023, 5-year-old Prince McCree was kept home from school sick in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His mother last saw him around 9 a.m. when he went to the basement of the multi-family home to play video games. While the mother went back to sleep, two non-relative household members — 27-year-old David Pietura and 15-year-old Erik Mendoza — attacked the child in the basement. Mendoza choked Prince, then both suspects beat him repeatedly using a barbell and golf club, taking turns striking him. They bound his body with duct tape, gagged him with rags, placed him in multiple garbage bags, and disposed of his body in a dumpster in the 5400 block of Vliet Street. Prince was reported missing on October 25 and his body was found in the dumpster on October 26, 2023. Both suspects were charged with first-degree intentional homicide, physical abuse of a child causing death, and hiding a corpse. The Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide. CPS substantiated physical abuse by the non-relative household members and neglect by both parents.
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)?
The fatality report states that the agency "found sufficient evidence to substantiate maltreatment of neglect to the child by the mother and father." The NBC15 article provides context: the mother kept the child home sick, thought he was playing video games in the basement with Pietura, "so she went back to sleep." She woke at 1 p.m. and only then checked on the child. A sick 5-year-old was left unsupervised with non-relative household members for hours, and the substantiation of neglect supports that this constituted inappropriate supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Multiple sources describe inflicted injuries. The CBS 58 article states the 15-year-old was "choking the child" and the two "continued to beat him repeatedly, at times using a barbell and taking turns striking him with a golf club." The NBC15 article adds: "Defendant Mendoza took a golf club and began striking [Prince]'s head and body with the golf club." Mendoza also admitted "I strangled him." The fatality report substantiated maltreatment of physical abuse to the child.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
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 CBS 58 article states the suspects "bound and gagged the child, put the child's body in a garbage bag and continued to beat him repeatedly, at times using a barbell and taking turns striking him with a golf club." The NBC15 article further details: "Defendant Pietura admitted it was his idea to bind [Prince]'s body with duct tape and gag [Prince]'s mouth with rags before wrapping the body in garbage bags." The child was restrained (bound and gagged) while being beaten with weapons in a deliberate, torturous manner that extends well beyond typical physical abuse. Although this occurred within a single incident rather than over weeks or months, the deliberate restraint and systematic use of multiple weapons constitutes torture.
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?
The fatality report states: "The Initial Assessment completed by the agency also found sufficient evidence to substantiate maltreatment of neglect to the child by the mother and father." While the father was not directly responsible for the physical abuse that killed the child, the agency substantiated neglect against him in connection with this child's death, indicating his failure to adequately supervise or protect the child contributed to the circumstances of the death.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The fatality report states: "The Initial Assessment completed by the agency also found sufficient evidence to substantiate maltreatment of neglect to the child by the mother and father." The NBC15 article describes the mother leaving the child unsupervised: she "thought the boy was playing video games in the basement with 27-year-old David Pietura, so she went back to sleep" and did not check on him until 1 p.m. While she was not directly involved in the physical abuse, the agency substantiated neglect against her in connection with this 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)?
The fatality report states: "On November 11, 2021, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging neglect to the child's now 2-year-old sibling by the mother. An assessment was completed by the agency, and the allegation of neglect was unsubstantiated. The case was closed upon completion of the Initial Assessment." This is a prior CPS report involving a sibling, predating this incident.
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)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The fatality report states that "a non-relative household member was charged with 1st Degree Intentional Homicide, Physical Abuse of a Child (Repeated Acts Causing Death), and Hiding a Corpse." The CBS 58 article identifies this individual as 27-year-old David Pietura. Both news articles confirm Pietura, an adult, was arrested and charged for the child's death.
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?
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 emerge from the sources. First, the 15-year-old defendant (Erik Mendoza) admitted to stabbing three random people just two days before killing Prince McCree; the CBS 58 article states he "wanted to stab someone badly" and "admitted feeling a rush from stabbing each victim." Pietura told investigators that Mendoza had "talked for some time about wanting to kill someone" and "never liked McCree and had discussed wanting to kill him." Second, the living arrangement was highly unusual—a multi-story home with makeshift bedrooms housing the victim's family alongside non-relative adults and children. Third, the child's body was bound, gagged, placed in garbage bags, and disposed of in a dumpster. Fourth, the 15-year-old was charged as an adult despite being only 15 years old. These details are substantive and materially affect understanding of this case.
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