4-Year-old Tortured, Abused Until He Died; Parents Charged

Immediately after birth, Judah went into foster care. Fortunately, he made it to the home of a loving foster family who one day hoped to adopt the boy and become his legal mother. The Indiana Department of Children’s Services assured her this would happen one day.

Foster Mom Hoped to Adopt Judah

Jenna Hullett, the cousin of Mary Ann Yoder, Judah’s mother, was the special person who took the infant in as her own. Mary Ann lost parental rights to Judah after a child abuse conviction against one of her older children.

Judah thrived for the first four years of his life. He was happy, always laughed, and loved his life. He called Jenna mom, although he visited Mary and his father, Alan Morgan on weekends. The visits took Judah’s bright smile away. Morgan hurt Judah during the weekend visits, the toddler often told Jenna when he returned home.

Judah Returned to Biological Parents

Jenna got the shock of her life when workers from DCFS called to say Judah was going to live with Mary and Alan during a six-month unification process. Rather than allow Jenna to legally adopt the boy as they promised for so many years, the state planned to return him to the couple, people whom he barely knew.

Judah lived only five months after the state of Indiana returned him to Mary and Alan.

Severe Abuse Leads to Death

Before murdering Judah, Alan severely abused him while Mary sat back and allowed it to happen. Even when Alan left the house, she never tried to help her son. Alan bound Judah with duct tape, starved him, beat him with their hands and assorted other objects, and hid him inside a basement without a bathroom or working lights, often for days at a time.

Morgan carried Judah to the basement by the neck about three times per week. Lights were turned off in the basement to “scare” the kids. The other children told police that both mary and Alan forced Judah into the basement and described hearing “hitting noises” as they yelled at Judah. The kids told police Morgan often taped Judah’s arms behind his back.

A 9-1-1 Call for Help

On October 11, 2021, Mary called 9-1-1, saying her son was unresponsive at their home. She told them Morgan beat the boy to death and might attempt to flee. She, meanwhile, was at the local hospital giving birth to the couple’s fifth child.

Police entered the home and immediately noticed a “strong pungent odor of urine and rotting food. Inside the home with feces and trash strewn about the floors, police found Judah’s dead body, naked wrapped in a blanket. His body was covered in bruises from head to toe.

Three other children sat in the home with Judah’s body. The refrigerator had a key-style lock and cord that prevented anyone from getting food.

All three kids were taken into state custody. The state of Indiana also removed the newborn baby from mary’s care and custody.

An emaciated dog was found in a 3 x 2 dog case with feces covering the bottom and his hair matted. Police charged the couple with child abuse after this discovery.

An autopsy later revealed Judah died from blunt force trauma and internal hemorrhaging.

Police charged Alan with murder. Mary was charged with child endangerment. Speaking to police, Mary told them she was scared of Alan and told him “that’s enough” and to “leave him alone” when the abuse became too bad.

Both remain behind bars awaiting trial.

Petition to Upgrade Charges Against Mary Yoder

If you feel Mary should face the same murder charges as Alan, there is a petition you can sign. Click the link below to sign the petition and read more about this story.