A 10-year-old Maine boy who weighed just 48 pounds and was forced to eat dog food as punishment has been avenged by the courts, with his father now pleading guilty to murder nearly two years after the child's death.
Braxtyn Smith died on Feb. 18, 2024, after his mother and grandmother rushed him to a hospital in Bangor. Medical examiners determined he had been beaten and ruled his death a homicide. He was seven pounds below the lowest percentile for a boy his age.
Background
According to court documents obtained by WGME and WMTW, Braxtyn suffered two years of abuse at his family's home in Bangor. When hospital staff examined him upon arrival, they noted he was vomiting and the contents looked and smelled like pet food. Investigators later learned that his parents routinely withheld food as punishment, forcing the starving child to eat from the dog's bowl.
Detectives uncovered a pattern of cruelty documented in text messages between Joshua Smith, 35, and Braxtyn's mother, Jem Bean, 37, as well as Smith's exchanges with the boy's grandmother, Mistie Latourette, 63. The messages revealed not just abuse but apparent enjoyment of the child's suffering.
"Little one is super tired and I'm going to slap him already so it should be fun," Smith texted Latoureuse in one message obtained by authorities.
Smith also communicated with Bean about restraining their son. "There some reason you couldn't be bothered to zip tie everything your supposed to huh?" he wrote, to which Bean responded: "What did I miss? I did his ankles to the tote and his hands together behind his back."
The Investigation
Approximately two years before Braxtyn's death, Smith sent a chilling message to Bean regarding the boy's schoolwork performance. "I'm going to kill him," Smith texted, according to WCSH. When questioned by authorities, Smith claimed the messages represented "sarcasm and stuff like that."
Bean initially attempted to deflect blame for Braxtyn's injuries, telling hospital staff and investigators that her son would throw himself to the ground during what she described as "temper tantrums." The boy's death ultimately prompted a more thorough investigation that uncovered the extent of the abuse.
A critical factor in the prolonged undetected abuse was that Braxtyn was homeschooled, shielding the family from mandatory reporting requirements and teacher observations that might have revealed his deteriorating condition. State officials acknowledged this educational arrangement prevented earlier intervention.
The Charges
Joshua Smith pleaded guilty on Thursday to murder in connection with Braxtyn's death. On Friday, Mistie Latourette, 63, entered a guilty plea to manslaughter. Earlier this year, Jem Bean also pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in the abuse that led to the boy's death.
Prosecutors are recommending Bean serve 25 years in prison for her involvement, while her defense attorneys have requested a significantly reduced sentence of five to 10 years behind bars, WCSH reported. Latourette's sentencing details have not yet been disclosed publicly.
Smith is scheduled for sentencing in September. The specific prison term he faces remains unclear as court proceedings continue.
Key Takeaways
- Braxtyn Smith died Feb. 18, 2024, at age 10, weighing just 48 pounds — seven pounds below the lowest percentile for his age group
- All three adults in the household have now pleaded guilty: father Joshua Smith to murder, mother Jem Bean and grandmother Mistie Latourette to manslaughter
- Text messages recovered by investigators documented two years of abuse, including threats to kill the boy and descriptions of binding him with zip ties
- The boy's homeschooled status prevented teachers and school officials from detecting signs of severe neglect and abuse
- Smith claimed his threatening text messages were "sarcasm" when questioned by authorities
What's Next
Joshua Smith is scheduled for sentencing in September, where a judge will determine the final outcome of his murder conviction. Jem Bean's sentencing date has not yet been set, though prosecutors have recommended 25 years while her defense team argues for five to 10 years. Mistie Latourette's sentencing proceedings remain forthcoming.