Teen who strangled, beat 5-year-old and left his body in dumpster pleads guilty to intentional homicide

MILWAUKEE (TCN) -- The last of two people accused in the 2023 death of 5-year-old Prince McCree has entered a guilty plea in connection with his death.

WITI reports 18-year-old Erik Mendoza pleaded guilty on Feb. 16 to first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, and three counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety. A sixth charge, physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing death, was dismissed but was read into the court record for sentencing purposes.

According to WISN, Mendoza was charged alongside 27-year-old David Pietura. Pietura was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on July 26, 2024.

Mendoza and Pietura lived in the same household as McCree and his family. According to a criminal complaint obtained by WISN, Pietura walked in on Mendoza, who was 15 at the time, choking McCree. Pietura then said they had to “clean it up” and tied McRee up with duct tape and put him in garbage bags.

When McCree regained consciousness several times, Mendoza and Pietura beat the child whenever he made a noise. According to investigators, they stomped on McCree’s head and beat him with a birdbath and dumbbell. They then disposed of his body in a dumpster, which was captured on surveillance footage.

According to People, Pietura allegedly told investigators that Mendoza talked about how he had never liked McCree and wanted to kill him.

After he was charged, Mendoza initially pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, according to WISN. This led to court-ordered psychological evaluations. Pleading guilty to first-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.

According to Court TV, McCree’s death inspired the creation of the Prince Act, which was signed by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers in 2024. The act, which stands for “Protection and Recovery Involving Non-Located Children Endangered,” lowers the bar for an Amber Alert.

In McCree’s case, an Amber Alert was never issued because there was reportedly not enough information available, Court TV reports. WTMJ reports Evers signed the bill at McCree’s school.

Mendoza is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, per WITI.

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