CLEVELAND, Ohio-Anita Deal has endured the heartbreaking loss of three sons to violence over the years. Her first son was shot in a car in 2017, followed by another son found in a field with gunshot wounds in 2020, and her 13-year-old killed in a drive-by shooting in 2021. Prosecutors charged two teens with her youngest son’s murder, resulting in life sentences, while another juvenile suspect remains at large.
Anita’s remaining son is incarcerated for crimes committed as a teenager. She grapples with the disparity in their punishments, believing one son’s imprisonment is justified while deeming the other’s unfair. This story is part of a series examining the juvenile justice system’s complexities and its impact on young offenders and victims alike.
