By Bob Johnson
MLive.com
SAGINAW (AP) - After serving time in prison for child abuse related to the death of her son, a Saginaw woman is now speaking out against child abuse and domestic violence.
Mio Campbell served four years and nine months behind bars for second-degree child abuse before being released on Dec. 4, 2018.
Her son, 6-year-old Elijah Dillard, was beaten to death by Campbell's estranged husband Aki C. Dillard in February 2014, MLive.com reported.
The story struck a nerve within the Saginaw community as residents came together to hold vigils for Elijah, help buy clothes for his funeral and raise funds to pay for his service.
Campbell was accused of not protecting her child. Former Saginaw County Chief Circuit Judge Fred L. Borchard told Campbell she did not perform a parent's "Number one responsibility."
After her conviction, Campbell said she used her time behind bars to reflect on where she felt she was weak and how she could have avoided prison and saved her son's life - though she believes it would have cost her her own life.
Campbell said she is not looking for sympathy, however, she wants people to realize there are others like her often stuck in and living through an abusive relationship.
"I want people to be strong enough to seek help," she said. "I'm not the only person who got beat. I'm not the only person who was not strong enough to protect my child."
In the wake of her son's death, Dillard and Campbell were arrested for child abuse. Three other children were removed from the home. Campbell also was released from jail before she was sentenced and delivered a baby that was immediately removed from her custody from the state.
Dillard and Campbell had their parental rights revoked and Campbell, now free, has no contact with her children.
Campbell pleaded no contest to the child abuse charge after testifying against Dillard during a preliminary examination. Her plea came three days after Dillard pleaded no contest to second-degree murder.
Prosecutors said Campbell's crime was "more of omission than a commission."
Former Chief Prosecutor Christopher Boyd also noted that while Campbell "had certain parental obligations" to prevent Elijah's injuries and death, "there also was indication that she was intimidated by Aki, which had a basis in fact since she knew he had a prior murder conviction."
Aki Dillard ultimately was sentenced to 100 to 150 years in prison for second-degree murder.
During Campbell's imprisonment, Ta-Tanesha Jiles and her former husband Omarr Dillard continued to keep Elijah's name alive by becoming advocates against child abuse. Omarr Dillard is the brother of Aki Dillard and often spoke out against his brother's actions.
The couple started mentoring and after-school programs as well as named a youth dance group and basketball team after Elijah.
Jiles, who said she suffered physical and sexual abuse in her younger years, now heads Embrace Your Voice and Break Your Silence, an organization that raises awareness for child and sexual abuse.
Campbell and Jiles have teamed up to continue raising awareness about abuse women and children suffer at the hands of others.
"I'm a survivor of both," Jiles said. "Me and Elijah share parts of the same story.
"I was molested from 7 to 12 years old by a family member," Jiles said. "I didn't have no one to talk to. I had to keep that in. As an adult, I went through a lot of abusive relationships."
An event that recent took place at the Saginaw Masonic Lodge showed a pre-screening of a documentary honoring Elijah and retelling Jiles' story.
The documentary, "League of My Own," will premiere soon at the Quality 10 GDX Theatre in Kochville Township. Markeen Baker of StayKeen Network produced the film.
Jiles said she waited for Campbell to be released from prison before taking on the project, stating she felt it was important Campbell be involved.
On March 13, 2014, Elijah's casket was carried after his funeral by a horse-drawn carriage. He lies in a grave at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Campbell was not allowed to attend the funeral, as she was awaiting trial while being held at the Saginaw County Jail. That thought alone was one that tortured Campbell every day but also served as motivation to serve out her sentence.
Missing from the audience were Dillard's parents, who are lodged at the Saginaw County Jail. His father faces murder and child-abuse charges and his mother faces a child-abuse charge.
Campbell said that she accepts responsibility for her part in Elijah's death and lives with the punishment of his death each day.
"I thought about him every day," Campbell said. "He was my strength to continue pushing every single day in prison."
Campbell visited her son's grave for the first time on March 1.
On April 11, she visited again, where she bent down and touched his grave while holding a balloon.
An Easter basket filled with a stuffed bunny and plastic Easter eggs sat near his ground-level tombstone.
Campbell stood and released her balloon.
"I still cry, but I'm not sad anymore," Campbell said. "It's more like, 'Baby, I'm going to make you proud. We are going to continue to keep your name alive.'"
Published: Mon, May 06, 2019
