Sean’s father, Michael Sowards, who is Herd’s son, pleaded no contest to second-degree child abuse in 2008. He received nine months in jail and five years probation.
Herd said on one hand, justice has been served for her grandson. On the other hand, many injustices happened during Sean’s life that could have and should have been stopped. Not only was Herd’s heart broken, but her eyes were opened. Not wanting her grandson’s death to be completely in vain, she wanted to do something to open other people’s eyes to the seriousness of child abuse. She started Sean’s Voice in 2008...
Herd, who moved from Macomb to the Port Austin area six years ago, also is a member of the Huron County Child Abuse and Neglect (CA/N) Council. She was elected to the board in 2010 and is the publicity committee chairwoman.