Indiana dad gets 70 years for torturing and beating 4-year-old son to death over potty training

LaPORTE COUNTY, Ind. (TCD) -- A 29-year-old man was sentenced to 70 years in prison for beating and torturing his 4-year-old son to death in 2021, which was reportedly due to potty training issues.

Court records show Alan Morgan was sentenced Tuesday, Nov. 29, after pleading guilty in September to first-degree murder and battery on a child for the death of his son, Judah Morgan. According to court notes about the sentencing, the judge decided on the sentencing because Morgan, who is referred to as "Deft" for defendant, had "care and control of the victim, the victim was significantly less than 12 years of age, he was 4; Deft committed these crimes in the presence of other children, his children; Deft fails to show remorse."

The note also said although Morgan pleaded guilty, he did so "at the 11th hour."

As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors dropped other charges against Morgan, including neglect of a dependent and cruelty to an animal.

Judah lived with his cousins for much of his life as a foster child, then spent the last six months of his life with his mother, Mary Yoder, and dad Alan Morgan, according to WSBT-TV.

Jenna Hullett, Judah’s foster mom, told WSBT at the sentencing hearing, "I wanted to really feel our pain of our loss and I wanted Alan to feel it but when I looked at Alan, there was nothing. There was nothing there, completely blank."

Judah was found dead Oct. 11, 2021, after the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office was called to the 3100 east block of CR 875 regarding an unconscious child. Deputies who arrived at the scene reportedly could not make contact with anyone inside the home, so they went in and found Judah deceased.

The little boy’s death was ruled a homicide, and investigators later located and arrested Yoder and Alan Morgan. WSBT-TV reports the autopsy showed Judah suffered blunt force trauma to the head and a brain bleed.

According to WTHR-TV, detectives discovered duct tape and a potty training toilet in the basement of Morgan’s home. Yoder allegedly told detectives Alan Morgan would abuse Jonah because he was not potty trained.

Video footage reportedly showed Yoder kicking Judah as well as Jonah being locked in the basement alone, WTHR reports.

Yoder’s trial is scheduled to begin in January.

MORE:

• State of Indiana v. Alan Dale Morgan
• State of Indiana v. Mary Elizabeth Yoder
• Indiana parents arrested after 4-year-old son found naked, dead under a blanket, 10/14/2021 - TCD
• LA PORTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CONDUCTING DEATH INVESTIGATION, 10/11/2021 - LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
• UPDATE #3 - DEATH INVESTIGATION, 1012/2021 - LaPorte County Sheriff's Office
• LaPorte man sentenced for killing son: "One of the most tragic cases" - WSBT
• Records: Surveillance video showed Indiana mother beating son, spurred new charges in Judah Morgan's death, 11/15/2021 - WTHR
• Father of Judah Morgan sentenced to 70 years in prison for son's murder - WTHR