Decatur Father and Girlfriend Convicted in 5-Year-Old’s Death; Sentenced to Prison

A Decatur father and his girlfriend have been convicted in the beating death of his 5-year-old daughter, Janiyah Herring, announced DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston.

Unchinna Myrick, 28, pleaded guilty on March 19, 2025, to Voluntary Manslaughter and two counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree.

Cedric O’Neal Herring, now 30, was found guilty by a jury on September 13, 2024, of Malice Murder, two counts of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and two counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree.

On May 29, 2021, Cedric Herring brought Janiyah to the emergency room, claiming she was unconscious after a car accident. However, medical staff found extensive bruising and wounds consistent with child abuse.

Herring initially claimed he used a belt to discipline his children. An autopsy revealed Janiyah died from blunt force trauma.

Investigation and interviews with Herring’s surviving children revealed that Janiyah had been beaten by Myrick with a cord after refusing to clean the house. Myrick then tied Janiyah to a bed and continued the assault. Herring later beat Janiyah again when she failed to respond. He then attempted to revive her with an ice bath before taking her to the hospital.

Judge Nora Polk sentenced Herring to life in prison on October 15, 2024. Following Myrick’s guilty plea, Judge Polk sentenced her to 50 years, with 30 years in custody and the remaining 20 on probation.

The case was prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Child Crimes Unit, with the initial investigation led by the DeKalb County Police Department.