Columbus, OH – A Columbus woman, Michelle Hilyard, 52, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 25 years before parole for the brutal beating of her boyfriend’s 4-year-old son, Bryson Brown, resulting in his death on May 26, 2021.
Conviction Details
On September 12, 2025, a Franklin County jury found Hilyard guilty of aggravated murder, murder, endangering children, and felonious assault.
During the trial, evidence showed that Hilyard had admitted in text messages to hitting Bryson multiple times with a board, causing him to fall down a set of stairs inside their home on Geers Avenue.
“I don’t care. I’m confessing. I did it. I don’t care,” Hilyard reportedly told Columbus police detectives about a week after Bryson’s death.
Bryson’s father discovered the boy unresponsive in a bed hours later. Despite being rushed to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Bryson succumbed to his injuries.
Sentencing and Judge’s Statement
Common Pleas Court Judge Andy Miller handed down the sentence on September 23, 2025. Hilyard will receive credit for over 1,500 days in jail while awaiting trial.
Judge Miller noted Hilyard’s extensive history of mental health issues, some documented while she awaited trial, influenced the decision on her sentence.
“The court was able to take life without parole completely off the table quickly in light of the defendant’s history of mental health,” Miller said. “This was a fairly savage beating of a 4-year-old.”
Prosecutor and Victim Family Response
Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Dan Lenert confirmed that efforts to communicate with Bryson’s father were unsuccessful, and he did not attend the sentencing hearing. Several jurors from Hilyard’s trial attended to witness the sentence.
Hilyard’s Criminal History
Hilyard’s legal troubles are not new. Court records indicate that in 2004, she and her late husband were convicted of sexual battery involving two children. Additionally, she has 10 biological children, all of whom were removed from her custody in Vinton County.
Mental Health Considerations
Assistant Franklin County Public Defender Gregory Hoover highlighted Hilyard’s history of self-harm and mental health challenges dating back to age seven, which the court considered while determining the sentence.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Michelle Hilyard brings justice for the tragic death of 4-year-old Bryson Brown, while highlighting the serious consequences of child abuse and the impact of mental health on legal proceedings.
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