Deonte Atwell (7) weighed 7lbs when he was pronounced dead on Christmas Day; his mother, Michelle Doe (37), has been arrested

[raisedbywolves]

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/...ounds/3415820/

A Fort Lauderdale mother charged with murder in the starvation death of her 7-year-old son who was found weighing just seven pounds when he was pronounced dead on Christmas Day will be staying behind bars.

Michelle Doe made her first appearance in a Broward courtroom on Thursday, where she was ordered held without bond.

Doe, 37, was arrested this week on charges including first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse, and two counts of neglect of a child in connection with the death of her son, Deonte Atwell.

The Broward State Attorney's Office said Atwell was diagnosed with thoracic spina bifida and hydrocephalus, had a breathing tube and feeding tube and required around-the-clock skilled nursing care.

But authorities said family members and two home health care employees appeared to have stopped providing him with services, resulting in aggravated abuse and ultimately his death.

Police said Atwell may have suffered for months before he was found and pronounced dead on Dec. 25, 2023. Atwell had turned 7 just two days earlier, on Dec. 23, although prosecutors said it appeared he may have been dead "for quite some time."

[Bewitchingstorm]

What about the other family members and the home health employees? This is beyond sickening.

[Nic B]

7 pounds??? How is that possible???

[Angiebla]

Why care for him for almost 7 years, then just stop? Were they trying some type of euthansia or something? Im trying to figure out why Home Health workers were not providing care? Were they getting paid?

Were there bed sores and urine and feces all over him?

[Angiebla]

Also Nic, if you followed the Hartly sisters, you will see its possible.

[Angiebla]

Lola and Claire Hartley

[Nic B]

It's just hard to imagine...lots of babies are born weighing that amount, and they are tiny.

[KimTisha]

I can't even wrap my head around this. I have a million questions and I'm so angry I could explode right now. That poor child.... Rest in peace Deonte...

ETA: Per the video in that article there was a 16yo brother and a 9yo brother in the house who shared a bedroom with this child.

The baby's grandfather is also charged. The two home health workers are being charged with Medicaid fraud. Literally everyone in this poor baby's life let him down. Everyone.