4-year-old boy who starved to death finally has grave marker

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A 4-year-old boy who allegedly was locked in a room and starved to death finally has a proper resting place in Belmont.

[Court clerks raise money to buy grave marker for boy who starved to death]

Channel 9 told you in November that clerks at the Gaston County Courthouse were heartbroken when they heard Malachi Golden had been buried for two years with no grave marker.

His grandparents planned to buy him a marker, but both died after his death. Malachi is buried next to his grandparents.

Superior Court clerks hung flyers throughout the courthouse, asking for money to help get Malachi get a gravestone. Clerks, defense attorneys, and even private citizens donated to the cause.

Malachi’s stepfather, Thomas Cheeks, was convicted of starving the little boy to death.

The case against Malachi’s mother, Tiffany Cheeks is still playing out.

Prosecutors filed a motion in November that will allow them to seek a murder charge for Tiffany Cheeks. She agreed during a plea to testify against her husband.

She testified on the stand that she lied during her confession, which prosecutors said is a violation of her plea agreement.

Prosecutors want to wipe away her eight-year sentence and seek a stiffer penalty.

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