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Smyrna woman indicted in daughter’s starvation death

By Christian Boone
April 3, 2013

Prosecutors in Cobb County have indicted a Smyrna woman for allegedly starving her 16-year-old daughter to death.

Markeka Berry weighed just 43 pounds when she died last June at her family’s home, Cobb District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Kim Isaza said. Her mother, 36-year-old Ebony Espree Berry, was charged with murder, felony murder and two counts of child cruelty.

She faces a maximum sentence of life in prison plus 20 years, Isaza said. Bond has been set at $75,000 for Berry, who is being held in Cobb jail.

Return for updates.

About the Author

A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.

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