Teen sentenced to life in prison for strangling 5-year-old who was found in a dumpster
06/08/2026 7:30 am PDT
MILWAUKEE (TCN) -- An 18-year-old has been sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree intentional homicide of a 5-year-old boy he strangled in 2023 when he was 15 years old.
Erik Mendoza and David Pietura, 27, lived in the same home as the family of 5-year-old Prince McCree at the time of his death. According to a criminal complaint obtained by WISN, Pietura walked in on Mendoza choking the child. Pietura told Mendoza that they needed to clean up the scene, so he tied up McCree and put him into garbage bags.
When the child regained consciousness, Mendoza and Pietura stomped on him and beat him with objects including a dumbbell and a birdbath. Surveillance footage later showed the two of them disposing of the child’s body in a dumpster.
Pietura was sentenced to life in prison for his role in McCree’s death in 2024. In February, Mendoza pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, and three counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety.
WTMJ reports Mendoza was sentenced to life in prison on June 5 with the possibility of parole after 50 years. Before the judge sentenced Mendoza, WITI reports the child’s father, Darren McCree, said, “I wish this guy would die and burn. No mercy. And I wish I could do it with my hands. I’m a different person now. My life is my kid’s life.”
MORE:
Teen who strangled, beat 5-year-old and left his body in a dumpster pleads guilty to intentional homicide — True Crime News
Man sentenced for killing 5-year-old boy and leaving body in dumpster — True Crime News
