Plea agreement offers are pending for the mother and son from New London charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a 17-year-old New London High School girl.

Erica Cherry, 40, and her son, N’Shon Cherry, 19, face first-degree manslaughter and multiple other charges related to the April 15, 2023, death of D’Nazia “Nay” Uzzle at Erica Cherry’s home at 392 Jefferson Ave.

Uzzle’s family this week said Erica Cherry was offered 15 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea that would halt a trial. N’Shon Cherry, Uzzle’s former boyfriend, is expected to receive a similar offer.

Both Cherrys, who are free on $250,000 bonds, appeared in New London Superior Court this week. Assistant State’s Attorney Christa Baker, who is prosecuting the cases, indicated in court that plea offers were being conveyed to the mother and son but did not disclose those offers publicly.

Family and friends of Uzzle have been a constant presence during the courtroom appearances of Erica and N’Shon Cherry, often wearing pink shirts with the phrase “Justice For Nay.”

Uzzle’s grandmother, Linda Lorenzo, said the family is bracing for news on where a plea offer might end up since there are typically negotiations that lead to a final agreement.

“We don’t want a plea deal, but it’s not up to us. It’s up to the judge,” Lorenzo said. “If they offer 10 years, that’s not justice for my granddaughter.”

Michele Lucas, Uzzle’s aunt, confirmed the 15-year offer and said the family is torn. It’s upsetting, she said, for family to see the people accused in Uzzle’s death walking free in the community. As such, a plea offer that sends them to prison is a benefit.

A trial, she said, might land the two in prison for a longer period of time but it also brings uncertainty, dredges up details of Uzzle’s death and likely prolongs the disposition of the case, possibly for years.

“As a family, there’s so many pros and cons. We can’t sit here and say we want this and not this,” Lucas said.

“No matter what you offer them and what they take, it will never be enough for us,” she said. “Whether they get the max or not, its not going to bring my niece back either way,”

Both N’Shon and Erica Cherry face charges of first-degree manslaughter, accessory to first-degree strangulation, first-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree assault and cruelty to persons. The manslaughter charge is a felony that, with a guilty plea, carries a term of imprisonment of between five and 20 years in prison.

On the morning of April 15, 2023, police said they found an unresponsive Uzzle at Cherry’s home. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner would later rule Uzzle’s death a homicide, caused by “a physical altercation with neck compression and blunt injuries.”

Police allege her death was the result of injuries sustained in a fight involving Uzzle and Erica and N’Shon Cherry.

Erica Cherry claims she intervened in a fight between Uzzle and her son and that Uzzle slashed both with a knife.

The Cherrys claim Uzzle was intoxicated when N’Shon Cherry brought her to the home and an argument between Uzzle and N’Shon Cherry turned physical. At some point, police said Erica Cherry pulled Uzzle by the hair to the floor and down a flight of stairs when she began gasping for air, according to police reports.

Police said Erica Cherry’s cell phone records revealed she made at least eight calls and sent several texts starting at 2:45 a.m. that morning before placing a 911 call at 3:08 a.m.

Erica Cherry is due back in New London Superior Court on Sept. 16 while N’Shon Cherry is due back in court Sept 26. Lawyers for each did not return calls seeking comment.

g.smith@theday.com