Left: Tanya Boyd (Grant County Sheriff”s Office). Right: Ezekiel Sheppard (Obituary).
A mother is accused of starving her disabled teenage son in a troubling case out of central Indiana.
Tanya Boyd is facing charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, specifically a level three felony, as per records from Grant County Superior Court.
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Back in 2021, the Indiana Department of Child Services initiated an investigation concerning 17-year-old Ezekiel “Zeke” Sheppard due to concerns over malnutrition and stunted physical growth, as reported by WTTV, a CBS affiliate based in Indianapolis.
In August 2022, Sheppard, who was around 17 years old and had cerebral palsy, was taken out of Boyd’s custody after experiencing ongoing issues with “severe chronic and acute malnutrition.”
His weight was just 88.5 pounds, according to court documents reviewed by the outlet. Once Sheppard was sent to a children’s facility, he started to improve. His weight increased by 61% and he grew two inches.
In September 2023, the Indiana Department of Child Services reportedly reached out to the Marion Police Department in reference to Sheppard’s case. He died on June 11, 2025; it was unclear whether his death was related to the alleged neglect.
“Throughout his struggles, Zeke loved to have people talk to him. He loved county music. And he always had a smile on his face,” his obituary reads. “His constant companion was a stuffed alligator toy, which helped to position and support him in bed.”
The obituary notes that Sheppard is survived by his mother and father.
Boyd is set to go on trial on December 15, with a pretrial conference set for roughly a month before that. Earlier this week, she filed a bond form with the Grant County Probation Department, court records show.
Boyd is not currently listed as an inmate, according to Grant County Jail records. She is next due in court in November for a pre-trial conference.
The investigation in the case is still active, law enforcement say.
