Mom, Brother, Grandfather, and Caregivers Are Accused of Starving a 7-year-old Crippled Son to Death
Fort Lauderdale, Florida. – A mother, grandpa, adult brother, and two caregivers in Florida have been accused in the starvation death of a 7-year-old crippled boy who weighed 7 pounds (3.1 kilograms) and had bones coming through his skin when he was discovered dead on Christmas, officials said Wednesday.
Deonte Atwell was born with spina bifida, a spinal cord deformity, and hydrocephalus, which is a buildup of fluid on the brain. He had breathing and feeding tubes and needed round-the-clock medical attention, which Broward County prosecutors claim he was not getting.
According to police and prosecutors, Deonte was discovered at the family home on Christmas night by Fort Lauderdale policemen and paramedics. They transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour later, but physicians said he had probably been dead for a while.
Police say they discovered 264 unopened bottles of his feeding formula in the family home.
“It’s sad to say that Deonte had suffered through his death,” Detective Jacqueline Sanchez told reporters, adding that his anguish was caused “by the people who were supposed to be caring for him the most.”
Following an eight-month investigation, the five were arrested on Tuesday.
Deonte’s 37-year-old mother, Michelle Doe, his 21-year-old brother, Tyreck Irvin, and his 33-year-old caregiver, Cassandre Lassegue, have been charged with first-degree murder, manslaughter, and child neglect. Doe and Irvin have also been accused with neglecting two more children, aged nine and sixteen.
Grandfather James Graham, 70, faces charges of aggravated manslaughter, child maltreatment, and failure to report child abuse.
Mirlande Moltimer, the 47-year-old owner of the service that employed Lassegue, faces charges of third-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, and child negligence. Both she and Lassegue have been charged with Medicaid fraud.
On Wednesday, a court ordered that Irvin, Lassegue, and Mortimer be kept without bond. Graham is being jailed under a $22,000 bond. Doe is in jail, and her court appearance has been rescheduled for Thursday.
Court documents did not reveal whether the five have counsel. The Broward County Public Defender’s Office did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.
The Florida Department of Children and Families stated that it is reviewing its records to determine whether its agents ever had contact with the family.