Man accused of killing son who lived in Sterling Heights

STERLING HEIGHTS — The case of a young Sterling Heights child who died years after he was abused by his father is now being taken to the Macomb County Circuit Court as a felony murder case.

According to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect, Anthony Tyese Robinson, 30, from Detroit, assaulted his then-6-month-old son in 2016. 

Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Dawn Fraylick said the son’s reported abuse-related injuries led to his death in 2022, when he was 6 years old. Fraylick explained in an email that the child “was living in Sterling Heights at the time of his death,” though she added that she did not specifically know where the incident of abuse in 2016 took place.

“I have no information on the injuries,” she added.

Fraylick said Robinson pleaded guilty to first-degree child abuse in December 2016 and was then sentenced in January 2017 to 129 months to 30 years imprisonment, with credit for 191 days. 

After the child died, prosecutors pursued charging Robinson with murder. According to the MiCOURT online database, Robinson was arraigned for “homicide murder first degree felony” in July 2023 in Sterling Heights’ 41-A District Court before Magistrate Michael Piatek, and bond was set at $1 million cash or surety. 

But on Jan. 22, 2024, a pre-exam hearing was reportedly held, and prosecutors say 41-A District Court Judge Stephen Sierawski bound over Robinson to Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens. An arraignment in the county court is scheduled for Feb. 5 before Judge Diane Druzinski.

Fraylick said the homicide charge is felony murder, adding that it can carry a life sentence without parole if guilt is found.

“So he is being charged with Felony Murder because the child died due to the defendant committing another felony which was Child Abuse in the First Degree,” Fraylick explained. 

“It is First Degree Murder but more accurately it would be Felony Murder  - murder conducted in the perpetration of child abuse in the first degree.”

In a statement, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido vowed to work hard on the case.

“Acts of violence have no place in our community, and we will diligently pursue all legal avenues to hold the defendant accountable for his actions,” Lucido said. “Our thoughts are with the boy’s family during this difficult time.”

When asked for comment about the case, Robinson’s listed attorney, Randy Rodnick, said, “It’s just unfortunate and sad for the family.”

Learn more about the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office by visiting macombgov.org/departments or by calling (586) 469-5350.