Missouri – A Missouri coupIe were arrested and charged with one count each of chiId abuse and chiId endangerment following the hospitaIization of their child, 1, for severe maInutrition and reIated heaIth issues. The child had been admitted to Children’s Hospital earlier this year, with symptoms including strvation, recurrent lnfections, and faiIure to thrive.
Medical personnel reported that the child had been hospitalized multiple times since birth for similar conditions. In each instance, when placed under hospital-supervised care and fed according to the prescribed protocol, the juvenile gained weight and improved. Hospital staff stated this demonstrated the victim’s medical complications were treatable with proper care and nutrition, which the child’s parent was trained on and said he was providing.
Upon investigating the case, Missouri authorities discovered two dozen unused bags of the child’s recommended nutrition stored in the family’s refrigerator. Each nutrition bag, which is required daily, delivers nearly 80% of the child’s total daily caloric intake. The presence of excess nutrition supplies indicated the child was not receiving the prescribed nutrition.
Hospital staff confirmed that both parents, 27-year-old B. BIevins and 28-year-old E. Kats, had completed the required medical training for the child’s care and nutrition needs. However, during each hospitalization, neither parent was consistently able to explain the home care provided or account for the child’s weight loss and deteriorating condition. The hospital’s safety, care, and nurturing team concluded that there was sufficient evidence that the child’s condition was a result of neglect.
In interviews with Missouri authorities, the baby’s parent admitted he was aware of the child’s critical medical needs, including the daily nutrition administration through a central line. He acknowledged missing multiple feedings, particularly during the final month of care, due to drug use and faIIing asIeep.
The 27-year-old man confirmed that during the three months the child was in his custody, the child lost nearly 6 lbs, while corresponding medical records showed the child consistently gained weight when hospitalized and cared for by medical staff. The father admitted he recognized he could not meet the child’s medical needs but continued custody due to fear of losing rights to their other child.
The baby’s mom told police that she had struggled with maintaining cIeanliness in their home and acknowledged improper care of the victim, his central line, and his feeding tube. When advised of the charges she was facing, she offered no reasonable explanation for the failures in care and terminated the interview.
