Mother, brother, grandfather and carer are said to let disabled boy starve

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A mother, grandfather, adult brother and two caregivers in Florida have been charged with starving a 7-year-old disabled boy to death. When he was found dead on Christmas Day, he weighed 7 pounds (3.1 kilograms) and had bones protruding from his skin, officials said Wednesday.

Deonte Atwell suffered from spina bifida, a congenital defect of the spinal cord, and hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the brain. He had both breathing and feeding tubes and required round-the-clock medical care, which he did not receive, according to Broward County prosecutors.

According to police and prosecutors, Fort Lauderdale police and paramedics were called to the family's home on Christmas night 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, they found 264 unopened bottles of his baby formula in the family home.

“It's sad to say that Deonte suffered until 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 eight months of 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 neglect. Doe and Irvin are also charged with the neglect of two other children, ages 9 and 16.

The 70-year-old grandfather James Graham is accused of manslaughter, child neglect and failure to report child abuse.

Mirlande Moltimer, the 47-year-old owner of the service where Lassegue was employed, is charged with third-degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect. Both she and Lassegue have also been charged with Medicaid fraud.

A judge on Wednesday ordered Irvin, Lassegue and Mortimer held without bail. Graham is being held on $22,000 bail. Doe is in jail and her court date has been rescheduled for Thursday.

Court records do not indicate whether the five have attorneys. The Broward County Public Defender's Office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The Florida Department of Children and Families said it is reviewing its records to determine if its staff ever had contact with the family.