Mother, grandparents of slain toddler Orderick Lucas plead guilty to child neglect

As the legal proceedings unfold, the mother and grandparents of Orderick Lucas, a toddler whose body was found under tragic circumstances, have pleaded guilty to charges of child neglect, raising questions about the failures in child protection. Pictured is the child’s mother Davidene Lucas (left) and grandmother Cornelia Scheepers (right). Slain toddler Orderick Lucas’s mother, grandmother and grandfather haveentered a guilty pleaas they face child neglect charges at the Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court.

Murdered Orderick’s mother Davidene Lucas, his grandmother Cornelia Scheepers and grandfather Devon Scheepers appeared briefly in court on Monday where the state confirmed that the guilty plea would be sent for sign-off at the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). The matter was remanded to May 7 and the trio were again released on warning until the next court appearance. The three accused face child neglect charges after Melvin Volkwyn was convicted and sentenced for the murder on September 28, 2021.

One-year-old Orderick went missing on March 25, 2019. His decomposed and maggot-infested body was found in a stormwater drain by a group of children playing with a ball. The gruesome discovery was made eight days after Orderick was reported missing.