Mother charged with child abuse after toddler dies weighing just 10 pounds
Detectives found the younger child had been consuming fewer than 250 calories per day
A St Louis mother has been charged with two counts of child abuse or neglect after her 20-month-old daughter died of suspected severe malnutrition, with investigators finding the toddler had been consuming fewer than 250 calories per day. Sausha Myers, 29, was charged on 13 June following the discovery of her two young daughters in an emaciated state at the family home in the 4300 block of St Ferdinand, according to court documents obtained by KMOV, Fox 2 Now and KSDK. Myers has been held without bond since being taken into custody.
Officers find two malnourished children
Myers called police to report that her youngest daughter was unresponsive and breathing slowly, and officers arrived to find the child lying on the living room floor. A three-year-old daughter was also present in the home, and both children appeared severely malnourished. Both girls were transported to St Louis Children's Hospital.
The younger child weighed only 10 pounds at the time of discovery and was found to have bedsores and pressure marks on her back and head, per KMOV and Fox 2 Now. She was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital. The three-year-old, who weighed 17 pounds and three ounces, remains hospitalised in a severely malnourished condition, KSDK reported, citing the probable cause statement.
Lanugo and signs of starvation
Court documents also noted that the three-year-old had developed lanugo — a fine body hair that typically appears in newborns for warmth and protection. The Cleveland Clinic notes that lanugo can be a sign of severe malnourishment, as it tends to grow when a person lacks sufficient body fat to regulate their temperature.
Myers admits children had no medical care
Myers confirmed to investigators that she was the sole caregiver for both children. She also acknowledged that neither child had seen a paediatrician in more than a year, despite being aware that they were not meeting developmental milestones, KMOV and Fox 5 reported. Detectives established that the younger child had been consuming fewer than 250 calories per day, with Myers allegedly stating her youngest daughter's diet consisted mainly of yoghurt, vegetable pouches and fruit pouches.
