12-year-old forced by older brother to hold his bladder in 'death camp' while the rest of the family went to Disneyland

A Utah antheral has been sentenced to situation for his relation successful the child abuse decease of his younger brother.

Tyler Peterson, 23, was sentenced to 5 years to beingness successful situation for kid maltreatment homicide connected Tuesday successful transportation with the decease of his small brother, 12-year-old Gavin Peterson. In May 2025, their father, 47-year-old Shane Peterson, and stepmother, 50-year-old Nichole Lea Scott, were sentenced for their roles successful the boy's decease aft they besides entered blameworthy pleas.

Local Fox affiliate KSTU was in the courtroom for the sentencing, during which details astir the maltreatment Gavin Peterson suffered astatine the hands of his member were shared successful court. Through her attorney, the boys' commencement parent pleaded for her older lad to beryllium spared prison, claiming Tyler Peterson had been "brainwashed."

During Tyler Peterson's sentencing, Judge Camille Neider said helium shared work for what happened to his small brother, saying, "I person nary grounds that you didn't cognize close from incorrect based connected the circumstances," but adding, "It's precise wide you weren't the alpha" successful the family.

Gavin and Tyler Peterson's parent wrote a missive that her lawyer work successful tribunal that said, "I cognize Tyler would ne'er bash this connected his own. He was brainwashed from a young age." Tyler Peterson's defence attorney, Ryan Bushell, noted that his lawsuit had described the "horrific quality of what occurred successful the house."

Law&Crime antecedently reported that during Scott's sentencing, prosecutors said schoolhouse nurses called Scott successful 2023 astir the lad having an infection. She texted Shane Peterson, "He does this [expletive] for attraction and I [expletive] hatred it and it makes maine hatred him much and more!"

Gavin was ne'er seen successful schoolhouse again. Prosecutors said the lad was forced to unrecorded successful 1 country of the location without a bed, nary entree to the bathroom, and fractional a solid of h2o a time with a portion of breadstuff with mustard, if helium was fed astatine all. He was forced to deterioration a diaper, which was often soiled. Prosecutors said Gavin was subjected to "nothing abbreviated of a prolonged decease camp" portion successful the home.

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However, authoritative Kevin McGaha told the tribunal that Tyler Peterson was an progressive participant. He cited texts that helium sent to Scott that listed what maltreatment the victim's older member had inflicted connected Gavin, including beatings and making the younger lad clasp his bladder. McGaha recounted however the household near Gavin and Tyler Peterson by themselves portion the remainder of the household went to Disneyland. During the trip, helium "reported incidents of intelligence and carnal torture" to Scott.

At the clip of his death, "Gavin was recovered with aggregate bruises connected his assemblage from beatings," McGaha told the court. "Some pictures recovered amusement Tyler kicking and beating Gavin each connected his own."

Prosecutors said during Scott's sentencing that connected the time Gavin died, aft helium was recovered unresponsive, Tyler Peterson and Scott "hid surveillance cameras, removed different items from the room, and removed and replaced the doorknob successful an effort to mislead the constabulary and fell the maltreatment and isolation that had been happening successful the home" earlier calling 911.

The boy's origin of decease was reported to beryllium complications from sepsis, with contributing factors including pneumonia, dehydration and untreated infections. His assemblage had besides shown signs of starvation and respective different carnal wounds.

Tyler Peterson was sentenced to 5 years to beingness for kid maltreatment homicide, 1 to 15 years for 2 counts of aggravated kid abuse, and 1 to 15 years for obstruction of justice. The sentences volition beryllium served concurrently, and helium gets recognition for 246 days served.