Caregivers of Northern California teen who died of starvation in 2025 arrested in Washington state
By Jose Fabian
The two caregivers of a disabled Northern California teenager who starved to death in 2025 were arrested in Washington state, authorities announced.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release on Friday that Megan M. Fredrick, 33, and Sherwood D. Johnson II, 37, were arrested on April 16 near Spokane on charges of murder and child abuse causing death and would be extradited to California.
On Monday, the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release saying Fredrick and Johnson had been identified as the primary caregivers of a 14-year-old girl who was developmentally disabled, requiring round-the-clock care and a feeding tube for nutrition. The office also said that Fredrick is the teen’s sister.
In January 2025, deputies responded to a medical aid call at a home in Live Oak and found the girl unresponsive; despite life-saving measures, the teen was pronounced dead. Based on the findings of detectives and the coroner’s report, the cause of death was determined to be starvation and neglect, according to the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office.
Following the child’s death, Fredrick and Johnson relocated to Washington state, and sheriff’s detectives obtained warrants for their arrest, the office said. Last week, a sheriff’s detective notified the Spokane County RAVEN Task Force that the suspects were believed to be living in Liberty Lake, east of Spokane.
After two days of surveillance, officers with the regional task force arrested Fredrick at a home in Liberty Lake and arrested Johnson at a nearby business. Both were being held at the Spokane County Jail pending extradition to California.
The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office said the suspects were expected to be extradited by the end of the day Monday.
“The death of a child is always tragic, and our hearts go out to the young victim in this case,” said Sheriff Brandon Barnes in a prepared statement. “Our staff assigned to Live Oak handled this case with professionalism and compassion. I am glad to see those responsible are in custody and will be held to answer on these charges.”
