Hearing Postponed For Parents Accused of Killing 5-Year-Old Daughter

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A motion hearing was set for co-defendants Bernice Bryd, 33, and Gerald Bryd, 35, before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Yolanda A. Tanner.

The request was made by the prosecution in an effort to join the two defendants’ cases. The parents face various charges of murder, child abuse, reckless endangerment, and neglect for the murder of their daughter, 5-year-old Zona Byrd.

Bernice Byrd allegedly found their daughter dead in her bed on Oct 14, 2024. She weighed 17-and-a-half pounds and showed signs of severe malnourishment. Neither parent could allegedly remember the last time they had seen her alive, nor the last time she had eaten, and neither took responsibility for feeding Zona.

The prosecution’s reasoning for joining the two cases was in consideration of two juveniles involved in the case. He stressed to Judge Tanner how traumatizing the trial process could be especially having to endure two seperate proceedings.

Meanwhile, the defense argued they lacked sufficient time to review new evidence for the hearing. According to court documents, the defense had submitted a motion for tangible evidence on July 16, the day prior to the hearing, requesting that the Maryland Department of Human Services produce and disclose all records and information related to Zona’s case.

Ultimately, the motion hearing was transferred to reception court before Judge Melissa K. Copeland, where it was postponed until Aug. 29.