Teagen died after she was left with catastrophic brain injuries by her father. Her family are furious as he gets ready to walk free from jail
The family of a woman who died after her father left her with catastrophic brain injuries as a child have criticized the justice system as he prepared to walk free.
Western Australian man Terrence Bice, 42, was convicted and jailed twice for crimes linked to his daughter Teagen Ferguson.
In 2005, Bice was charged with grievous bodily harm for violently throwing Teagen, then two years old, to the ground because she would not stop crying.
Teagen suffered a catastrophic brain injury and suffered from sixteen chronic medical conditions before dying in June 2020 at the age of 18.
In September last year, Bice was sentenced to four and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of his daughter.
Teagen Ferguson (pictured) died in June 2020 after suffering from 16 chronic medical conditions caused by a catastrophic brain injury when her father violently threw her to the ground when she was two years old
Terrence Bice, 42, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Teagen’s death and will be released on parole Wednesday (photo, Teagen as a toddler)
Bice will be released on parole on Wednesday, but the reasons for the release decision are being withheld by the Prisoners Review Board.
It is believed that time already served has been taken into account, with Bice having spent a total of five and a half years behind bars.
Teagen’s sister Courtney — who was present when Bice violently threw Teagen — said she doesn’t think justice was served.
“Yes, he was eligible for it, but he didn’t have to get it. It doesn’t feel like justice at all. It doesn’t feel long enough,” said Courtney WA Today.
“I feel like I deserve to know. I feel like it’s not fair that I don’t know [the reasons for Bice’s release].
“He not only destroyed Teagen’s life, but mine as well.”
The girls’ aunt, Tanya Fogarty, said she was “angry” at the parole board for releasing Bice and not giving the family an explanation for their decision.
“Even though he has been held accountable by the law, he hasn’t really done enough of the time that was taken from Teagen,” Ms Forgarty said.
Tragically, Teagen and Courtney’s mother, Kristy Ferguson, died of cancer just two weeks after Bice was convicted of manslaughter.
“It’s been quite traumatic and difficult since then as Courtney is now left without her sister and now her mother,” Fogarty said.
Tragically, Teagen’s mother, Kristy Ferguson, died of cancer just two weeks after Bice was convicted of manslaughter.
Teagen’s sister, 23-year-old Courtney, said she felt like justice was not served and is struggling with emotional and mental pain from the deaths of her mother and sister.
Ms Fogarty added that Courtney is struggling emotionally and mentally over her mother’s death and what happened to her sister.
Courtney’s family has created a GoFundMe page to help the 23-year-old heal from the trauma.
Courtney explained that her sister “never gave up” and fought every day with a smile on her face.
“I’m trying to raise some money… to take that little bit of financial stress off of Courtney and make things a little easier for her at a time when she really needs it,” Ms Fogarty wrote.
At the time of writing, the fund has received seven donations totaling $425 and has a goal of raising $3,500.