MILWAUKEE, WI – An 18-year-old Wisconsin man was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for his role in the brutal 2023 killing of 5-year-old Prince McCree, a case that later prompted changes to state law.
The Sentencing
Erik Mendoza, who was 15 at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty in February to first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse, and three counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety.
A Milwaukee County judge ruled that Mendoza will not be eligible to petition for release for 50 years. His accomplice, David Pietura, was previously sentenced to life in prison in 2024.
Background of the Case
Prince McCree was reported missing on October 25, 2023, after going to play video games in the basement of his family’s home, where Pietura also resided.
The following morning, authorities discovered the child’s body in a dumpster near North 55th Street and West Vliet Street, roughly a mile from his home. Court records show investigators utilized surveillance video and cellphone GPS data to contradict the suspects’ initial timelines and locate the body.
The Prince Act
The tragic loss of the 5-year-old directly prompted the passage of The Prince Act in Wisconsin. This state legislation broadened the missing-child alert system, allowing authorities to issue alerts for critical cases that do not strictly meet the narrow criteria required for a federal Amber Alert.
Family Delivers Impact Statements
During Friday’s emotional hearing, the child’s parents addressed the court.
“I’m a different person now. My life is my kid’s life,” said Darron McCree, Prince’s father.
The child’s mother, Jordan Barger, expressed relief following the decision, stating, “I’m just happy justice got served.” Mendoza declined to make a statement to the court before his sentence was handed down.
