RAPID CITY, S.D. – On Monday, Naomia Prairie of Rapid City was sentenced to 12 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary following her guilty plea to child abuse and abuse or neglect of a disabled adult.
The charges stem from the tragic death of the defendant’s 18-year-old son, Donny Merrival, a quadriplegic who died as a result of extreme neglect while in Prairie’s care. At the time of his death, Merrival weighed just over 80 pounds. During sentencing, Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Gina Nelson stated that the doctor who conducted the autopsy compared Merrival’s body to that of a Holocaust victim. Nelson said the young man was exposed to illegal drugs, was not fed or bathed, and was ultimately left to “rot.” Merrival had died in a motel room where he, the defendant, and a 7-year-old child had been staying. According to Nelson, when the defendant realized Merrival was deceased in the motel room, she fled instead of contacting law enforcement.
Merrival, who became quadriplegic at age 14, remained in the custody of the Department of Social Services until age 18 and during that time he had been learning to thrive, despite his handicap, according to Nelson.
The 7-year-old child, also in Prairie’s care, had never been enrolled in school, was also malnourished and had been taught to use methamphetamine by other adults. Since being removed from the defendant’s care, the child has made significant progress, according to Nelson.
“This case represents some of the most egregious conduct we’ve ever seen,” said Nelson. “Two vulnerable individuals, one a child and the other a severely disabled adult, were entirely dependent on Ms. Prairie for care and safety. Instead, she subjected them to unimaginable suffering and neglect.”
Seventh Circuit Court Judge Joshua Hendrickson called the case both “shocking” and “haunting” as he handed down the maximum sentence: ten years for the child abuse charge and an additional two years to run consecutively for the neglect of a disabled adult.
This case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Gina Nelson.
