A 29-year-old Missouri mother is in custody after her 1-year-old daughter starved to death. According to authorities, the baby was kept on a strict diet of just 250 calories a day.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the investigation began on June 14 when Sausha Mia Myers called 911. She told the dispatcher that her youngest daughter was unresponsive and her breathing was very slow.
When first responders arrived at the apartment, they found the 1-year-old lying on the floor without a pulse. Both the baby and a 3-year-old child found inside the home were visibly emaciated.
Paramedics rushed both children to a local hospital, where the 1-year-old was officially pronounced dead. Medical staff noted that the baby had bedsores and weighed a mere 10 pounds. For comparison, Law & Crime noted that the average weight for a child of that age is roughly 24 pounds. Investigators later determined the 1-year-old was being fed food pouches that totaled only 250 calories a day.
The 3-year-old sibling was also found in critical condition. Hospital staff weighed the toddler at just 17 pounds, which is about 13 pounds below the healthy average for that age. First responders and medical personnel reported that the 3-year-old had scars on her torso and is completely nonverbal. She remains in the hospital receiving ongoing medical treatment.
Court documents show that neither child had been taken to see a doctor in over a year. However, the older child had previously been treated for issues related to low weight. During that past visit, the doctor reportedly tried to educate Myers on proper nutrition guidelines for her children.
Myers has been charged with two counts of child abuse and neglect. Authorities have noted that once the results of the 1-year-old’s final autopsy are released, she could face additional criminal charges. Myers is currently being held behind bars without bond.
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