DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the convictions of a Decatur father and his girlfriend in the beating death of his five-year-old daughter, Janiyah Herring. On March 19, 2025, Unchinna Myrick, aged 28, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree for her role in the child's death on May 29, 2021.
Previously, on September 13, 2024, Cedric O’Neal Herring was found guilty by a jury of malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, and two counts of cruelty to children in the first degree.
The investigation revealed that Herring had taken Janiyah to Emory Decatur Hospital's emergency room claiming they were involved in a multi-vehicle car accident. He alleged that his daughter was knocked unconscious during the crash. However, medical staff quickly realized she was not breathing and attempted unsuccessfully to revive her.
A physical examination conducted at the hospital showed extensive bruising and wounds consistent with child abuse. This prompted hospital staff to notify local authorities including the DeKalb County Police Department (DKPD), Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), and the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Upon interviewing Herring, DKPD officers discovered inconsistencies in his story about the alleged car accident. Further investigation revealed no evidence of such an incident or any vehicle involved. When questioned about Janiyah’s injuries, Herring admitted to disciplining his children with a belt.
An autopsy confirmed that Janiyah died from blunt force trauma and ruled her death as homicide. Investigators learned from surviving children that Myrick had whipped Janiyah with a cord after she refused to help clean up. The situation escalated when Myrick tied her to a bed and continued beating her before releasing her. When Janiyah fell to the floor unresponsive, Herring also beat her before attempting an ice bath revival attempt prior to taking her to the hospital.
On October 15, 2024, Judge Nora Polk sentenced Herring to life imprisonment following his trial. After Myrick's guilty plea on March 19, Judge Polk sentenced her to serve 30 years in custody out of a total 50-year sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Sarah Hilleren and Hannah Pendergast along with District Attorney Investigator Kendall Ham and Victim Advocate Jenaiya Coleman. Detectives Kearney and Fowler from DKPD led the initial investigation.