Jury Finds Former Clinton Township Grandmother Guilty of Grandson's Murder

A jury has found a former Clinton Township grandmother guilty of felony murder and first-degree child abuse related to the 2010 drowning death of her 4-year-old grandson.

Terry Borgia, 63, was convicted Monday in her fourth Macomb County Circuit Court trial, according to court records. Legal issues and a hung jury led to mistrials for Borgia's three previous trials.

“We’re satisfied with the jury’s verdict. It’s been a long time in the making,” Assistant Prosecutor Bill Cataldo told The Detroit Free Press.

The jury found Borgia guilty of felony murder and child abuse in the first degree. A third count of involuntary manslaughter was dismissed prior to jury deliberations, according to court records.

Borgia was accused of drowning her 4-year-old grandson, DeAngelo Tobia, in January 2010 in the bathtub of her Clinton Township apartment. At the time of Tobia's death, Borgia was living with her daughter, Tonina. 

Prosecutors say there is no evidence to charge Tonina, despite claims by defense attorney Mark Haddad that Terry Borgia has been protecting Tonina for the past two years.

Terry Borgia is due to be sentenced by Judge Peter Maceroni at 9 a.m. April 17. She is currently being held in Macomb County Jail.