Name: Deonte Atwell.
Died: December 25, 2023.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
Disability: Spina bifida, hydrocephalus.
Details:
On Christmas day, paramedics responded to Deonte’s home to find him unresponsive; he was declared dead at the hospital. His tiny body weighed only seven pounds, and police who searched the home say they found more than two hundred unopened bottles of the formula Deonte was supposed to get. Deonte’s parents are also charged with neglecting his siblings, ages nine and sixteen.
Case Status:
Michelle Doe (Mother), charged with first-degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect.
Tyreck Irvin (Brother), charged with first-degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect.
James Graham (Grandfather), charged with aggravated manslaughter, child neglect and failure to report child abuse.
Mirlande Ameda (professional caregiver), charged with third-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter and child neglect.
Cassandre Lassegue (nurse), charged with first-degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect.
Sources:
Disabled boy, 7, starved to death in horror abuse as mom and family arrested
5 arrested for starving disabled 7-year-old to death in Florida: BSAO
Mom, brother, grandfather and caregivers are charged with starving 7-year-old disabled boy to death
South Florida mother accused of starving her 7-year-old child to death is denied bond
5 adults charged with starving 7-year-old disabled boy to death in Fort Lauderdale
Murder Charges Following Starvation Death Of Disabled Ft Lauderdale Boy
No bail for mom accused of ‘willful torture’ in starvation death of 7-year-old underweight disabled boy