A 12-year-old Utah boy has been found dead after years of alleged abuse, including extreme malnutrition.
Gavin Peterson died on July 9 after Webster County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to his father’s West Haven home, reporting that the boy was “not breathing” and had been “vomiting” for days.
Officers and paramedics attempted to revive Gavin, who was found on the bathroom floor, before being taken to the hospital, where he later died, police said.
His father, Shane Peterson, 46, his stepmother, Nichole Scott, 50, and his older brother, Tyler Peterson, 21, were all arrested in connection with Gavin’s horrific death, which was the result of “a prolonged pattern of abuse spanning several years.”
Disgusting surveillance footage and text messages between the three showed Gavin’s final days, in which he was given only “a piece of bread with mustard” and “a third cup of water” and “not allowed to go to the bathroom,” the affidavit said.
Gavin Peterson died on July 9 after Webster County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to his father’s West Haven home with reports that the boy was “not breathing” and had been “vomiting for days.”
His father, Shane Peterson, stepmother, Nichole Scott, and older brother, Tyler Peterson, were all arrested in connection with Gavin’s horrific death, which was the result of “a prolonged pattern of abuse spanning several years.”
“The deputy noted that the bathroom floor was wet and the child’s skin was cold to the touch,” the statement said.
‘Nichole and Shane reported that the child had been sick for several days, vomiting and having seizures, but had not been taken to a doctor. On the day of the incident, Nichole found the child in his bedroom, covered in vomit, and helped him into the shower.’
When Gavin was taken to the hospital, doctors discovered that his body was “so malnourished that the child’s internal organs had completely failed. The child’s body was visibly emaciated,” the statement said.
Upon further investigation into the child’s tragic death, detectives discovered multiple text messages between Tyler and Shane in which they discussed Gavin’s condition.
In the messages, Tyler told his father that Gavin was not breathing and asked what he should do, the affidavit said.
Investigators also found surveillance camera footage that showed Tyler walking to the backyard shed three times around the same time they called 911.
“During two of these trips, Tyler appeared to be carrying items into the shed. A search of the property revealed small surveillance cameras in the shed where Tyler entered,” the affidavit said.
Screenshots of surveillance footage of Gavin’s room were also found on Nichole’s phone, showing the horrific conditions the boy was living in.
‘In most of the screenshots, the child is wearing only a heavily soaked diaper. The child can be seen curled up on the floor of the uncarpeted room, which has no bedding or blankets.
When Gavin was taken to the hospital, doctors discovered that his body was ‘so malnourished that the child’s internal organs had completely failed’
‘Several screenshots also showed sores on the child’s back. The room appeared to have multiple cameras, as infrared lights from other devices were visible in the screenshots.
“The photo also showed the door handle with the locking mechanism on the outside of the room,” the arrest report said.
After detectives searched the suspects’ phones, they found text messages discussing whether Gavin could “go to the bathroom” or “get food.”
Their conversations also included discussions of “hitting or abusing” Gavin, including “using a piñata stick,” the report said.
They also say the child’s bedroom door is locked and he has to knock on the door to get out.
‘When it comes to feeding the child, the three suspects say they gave the child only a third of a cup of water, that they gave him only a piece of bread with mustard or that they gave him no food at all.
“All of these messages and evidence revealed a long-term pattern of abuse spanning several years,” the statement said.
Gavin’s mother, Melanie Peterson, said KSL-TV Gavin was given legal custody of Shane after she lost custody of all four of her children between 2014 and 2015 after pleading guilty to a drug-related charge.
Although Melanie served her sentence, she was unable to regain custody of her children.
Gavin’s mother reported multiple instances of neglect and abuse by Shane and Nichole. She noticed that her second oldest child was malnourished. She also described the horrible conditions she endured while in the care of her father and stepmother.
‘Nichole captured [them] in the room. The lock was on the outside. She couldn’t get out,’ Melanie said.
She has a cable tie [them] to the bed, there was a camera so if [they] something done, as [they] If it came out, she would see it on camera.
‘She couldn’t eat anything at all, just one meal a day, and it was doused with mustard, because all my children hate mustard.’
In 2019, she reported the suspected abuse to the Webster County Sheriff’s Office and authorities referred Melanie to DCFS, but at the time the agency was closed over Memorial Day Weekend.
Screenshots of surveillance footage of Gavin’s room were also found on Nichole’s phone, showing the horrific conditions the boy was living in at his father’s house (see photo).
Investigators eventually interviewed her daughter, whom she shares with Shane, and said they found no signs of physical abuse. They only offered therapy for the child and no physical exam was ever performed, Melanie said.
After Melanie was granted visitation rights again in November 2019, she noticed that she was malnourished.
“The last time I saw him, I took a picture of him because he looked so thin. I wanted to take him with me, to see a doctor,” she recalls.
She again took her concerns to authorities and took another shirtless photo of Gavin in February 2020. Melanie never saw her son again.
Gavin’s mother claims that Shane and Nichole forbade her from ever seeing Gavin again after they found out she had been taking photos of him.
She alleges the couple filed false complaints against her, stripping her of all visitation rights. Although she filed the accusation, the case was dragged out by the Utah Division of Child and Family Services during the pandemic, Melanie said.
“And it’s not like I didn’t try. No one helped me,” she said.
‘The way he died, I don’t understand how anyone could do that to someone else.’
The agency told KSL TV: “The loss of a child is devastating and devastating. This is tragic for so many, from the family and the community to everyone involved.
“The Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) works with children and families during their most vulnerable moments.”
Melanie wasn’t the only one to notice that Gavin was allegedly being neglected. Jan Davis, a cafeteria worker at Kanesville Elementary School, also noticed.
“He was small for his age, quite thin, they kept his hair short and he missed school a lot,” Davis said. KSL television.
Gavin’s mother, Melanie Peterson, said Gavin was in Shane’s legal custody after she lost custody of all four of her children between 2014 and 2015 after pleading guilty to a drug-related charge.
Davis said she and a colleague Gavin would provide lunch even though the school told them not to. They wanted struggling families to fill out a form to qualify for a reduced lunch.
She said she called DCFS and school administrators several times to express her concerns, but nothing was done to help him.
“I think school was a safe haven for him… but I just don’t think we did enough for him,” Davis said.
Gavin dropped out of school in August 2023 before his sixth grade year. Davis said Nichole “pulled him out of school to homeschool him.”
DailyMail.com reached out to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office and Kanesville Elementary School for comment.
Shane and Nichole were booked into the Weber County Jail on July 17 on charges of manslaughter with child abuse, two counts of aggravated child abuse and child endangerment.
Nichole is also charged with drug possession and obstruction of justice. Tyler was arrested on July 18 for child abuse, manslaughter, two counts of aggravated child abuse and obstruction of justice.
Jail records show all three are being held without bail.
a GoFundMe A page has been set up to help Melanie and her family pay for Gavin’s funeral service and ‘therapy sessions’ to help them understand the tragic loss of Gavin.
“While they wait for justice, the family is picking up the pieces by planning the funeral service and arranging therapy sessions for Gavin’s older siblings, who also faced abuse and neglect while in their care,” said Heather Routh, Melanie’s sister.
According to Routh, Gavin loved Pokémon and science, and his favorite color was blue.
A vigil was held for the 12-year-old boy at a local church on Tuesday.