Suspect Charged With Murder In Death Of 4-Year-Old Girl

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — A Macomb County man has been charged with felony murder and child abuse in connection with the death of 4-year-old Ivy Yurkus in May. The Roseville girl died from trauma to her abdomen that Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith says happened after the girl’s mother left her with boyfriend Jonathan Jones while she worked.

The incident happened on May 3 while the girl and her two siblings were under Jones’ care at about 4:30 p.m. He drove Ivy Yurkus and the other children to their mother at Outback Steakhouse rather than immediately calling 911, Smith said.

The Roseville Fire Department responded to a 911 call from Outback Steakhouse at 5:23 p.m. where they discovered Ivy in “dire need of medical assistance,” Smith said. She was later rushed to St. John Hospital in Detroit where she died the following morning.

“The abuse inflicted on this young child by her mother’s boyfriend is beyond reprehensible,” Smith said in a statement. “The loss of this child’s life strikes each of us at the heart.”

Jones was arraigned in Roseville 39th District Court Thursday afternoon. A preliminary examination will be held on the charged next month at the court.

The Macomb County Medical Examiner ruled Ivy Yurkus’ death a homicide a few days after the incident, WJBK-TV reported. Roseville Police Chief James Berlin wasn’t surprised.

"The ME's office says no, this had to have been a purposeful blow by somebody and this is not the result of an accident or simple fall or anything along those lines," Berlin told the television station.

Photo of Amanda and Ivy Yurkus via GoFundme.