A Georgia man has been sentenced to several consecutive life terms in prison following a trial that exposed years of abuse inflicted on his children, abuse that prosecutors say directly contributed to the death of his 10-year-old daughter.
William McCue, 51, was found guilty of felony murder, two counts each of rape and incest, and three counts of aggravated child molestation. He received three consecutive life sentences without parole, plus a fourth life sentence and an additional 120 years.
His wife, Carina McCue, 42, pleaded guilty to first-degree cruelty to children, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment. She was sentenced to 90 years and was required to testify against her husband.
The case stems from a house fire in Loganville, Georgia, in April 2022. Carina McCue managed to get her two young sons out of the burning home but could not reach her daughter, Zowey, who was trapped in a windowless bathroom that had been used as her bedroom. The girl died of smoke inhalation, just days after turning 10.
The couple’s oldest son, then 15, later testified that he started the fire in an attempt to escape ongoing abuse in the household. According to testimony presented during the trial, the children endured severe mistreatment, including being forced to wear shock collars, stand for extended periods on cinder blocks, and use buckets instead of a bathroom. None of the children were enrolled in school or homeschooled.
Carina McCue also testified that her husband had confessed to sexually abusing their oldest daughter for years.
After roughly four hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all major charges. The district attorney’s office described the children’s treatment as horrifying and said the death was both preventable and devastating for the family left behind.
Zowey was remembered by loved ones as an affectionate child who enjoyed simple pleasures like playing outside, riding her bike, and spending time with her siblings. Family members described her as warm-hearted and full of curiosity, someone who brought light into the lives of those around her despite the hardships she faced at home.
