A Georgia man has been sentenced to multiple life terms in prison after a jury found him guilty of murder following the death of his 10-year-old daughter, who could not escape a house fire because of the conditions she was forced to live in.
William McCue, 51, received three consecutive life sentences without parole, plus a fourth life sentence and an additional 120 years, after being convicted of felony murder, rape, incest, and aggravated child molestation in connection with the death of his daughter, Zowey McCue. The verdict came after a jury deliberated for about four hours.
Zowey died of smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at the family’s home in Loganville, located northeast of Atlanta, in April 2022. Her mother, Carina McCue, 42, managed to get the couple’s two sons out of the house but could not reach Zowey, who was confined to a windowless bathroom that had been used as her bedroom. Carina McCue later pleaded guilty to cruelty to children, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment, and was sentenced to 90 years in prison. As part of her plea agreement, she testified against her husband.
The McCues’ oldest son, who was 15 at the time, testified that he started the fire in an attempt to escape ongoing abuse in the home. According to testimony presented at trial, the children endured severe mistreatment, including physical punishment, prolonged forced isolation, and being denied access to basic necessities and schooling.
Prosecutors said the children showed significant improvement once removed from their parents’ care, despite being far behind in development and education for their ages.
Carina McCue also testified that her husband had confessed to sexually abusing their oldest daughter for years.
Officials who handled the case described the treatment of the children as horrifying and said Zowey’s death was both senseless and avoidable. Family members have remembered Zowey as an affectionate child who enjoyed playing outdoors, riding her bike, and spending time with her siblings, just days after celebrating her 10th birthday before her death.
