Mom, brother, grandfather and caregivers charged with starving disabled boy to death
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — A mother, grandfather, adult brother and two caregivers in Florida have been charged in the starvation death of a 7-year-old disabled boy. He weighed 7 pounds (3.1 kilograms) and had bones protruding through his skin when he was found dead on Christmas Day, authorities said Wednesday.
Deonte Atwell had spina bifida, a birth defect of the spinal cord, and hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain. He had both breathing and feeding tubes and required 24-hour medical care, which he did not receive, according to Broward County prosecutors.
According to police and prosecutors, Fort Lauderdale officers and paramedics were called to the family’s home on Christmas Eve last year and found Deonte. They took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead an hour later, but doctors said he had likely been dead for some time.
According to police, 264 unopened bottles of his formula were found in the family’s home.
“It’s sad to say that Deonte suffered all the way to his death,” Detective Jacqueline Sanchez told reporters, adding that his pain was caused “by the people who should have cared for him the most.”
After 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, are charged with first-degree murder, manslaughter and child abuse. Doe and Irvin are also accused of neglecting two other children, ages 9 and 16.
Grandfather James Graham, 70, is charged with aggravated manslaughter, child neglect and failure to report child abuse.
Mirlande Moltimer, the 47-year-old owner of the service that employed Lassegue, is charged with third-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter and child abuse. Both she and Lassegue are also charged with Medicaid fraud.
A judge on Wednesday ordered that Irvin, Lassegue and Mortimer all be held without bail. Graham is being held on $22,000 bail. Doe was jailed and her court appearance was postponed until Thursday.
Court records do not indicate whether the five have attorneys. The Broward County District Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The Florida Department of Children and Families says it is checking records to see if officers ever had contact with the family.