Grandmother of slain boy held on neglect charge

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Prosecutors say the grandmother of a 10-year-old South Bend boy allegedly beaten to death by his father paid her son not to beat his children too hard.

But police say 53-year-old Dellia Castile failed to report the abuse.

Her son, 35-year-old Terry Sturgis, faces a murder charge in the Nov. 4 death of his 10-year-old son, Tramelle. Police say Sturgis beat Tramelle and two brothers ages 8 and 14 with a wooden club during a night of abuse.

The South Bend Tribune reports rbattin@dailyherald.com

that investigators say Castile offered to do laundry for Sturgis and paid him cash if he would stop abusing the children.

She was being held in St. Joseph County Jail Thursday on preliminary charges of neglect. Sturgis is jailed without bond.