Mum says she ‘dropped the ball’ as starved son, 14, dies weighing just two stone
A woman faces severe charges after her 14-year-old son was found dead, weighing only 2 stone 3.
Talia Nelson, 43, of Daytona Beach, Florida, finds herself behind bars facing serious charges after the tragic death of her 14-year-old son, Zayke Smith-Nelson, who weighed 33 pounds, or 2 stone 3, at the time of his death.
The arrest came after an investigation by the Daytona Beach police shed light on disturbing details of alleged neglect and abuse that led to the boy's demise.
During interviews with authorities, Nelson offered various excuses, including unfounded claims of rare medical conditions afflicting her son.
She admitted to failing to seek medical help for Zayke, acknowledging that she had "dropped the ball" in caring for him.
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Police arrested a woman who left her child emanciated (Daytona Beach Police Department)Nelson stands accused of first-degree felony murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, and aggravated child abuse, as stated in the arrest report.
Authorities were alerted to the situation on January 1, 2024, when they responded to a call reporting an unconscious person at the Nelson residence on Carolina Lake Drive.
Upon arrival, police found Zayke unresponsive, with visible signs of severe malnutrition and extensive bedsores. Despite efforts to save him, the teenager tragically succumbed to his injuries at Halifax Health Medical Center.
During their search of the three-bedroom apartment, detectives found a room in appalling condition. It had no furniture and reeked of urine.
Soiled clothes and toys littered the floor, with clothes even stuffed under the door. Bugs crawled on the walls and floor throughout the apartment, highlighting the dire living conditions.
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Further investigation uncovered a history of neglect and abuse. Medical records revealed that Zayke had not received proper medical attention for three years, despite previously being in good health.
Disturbingly, the teen bore scars consistent with sustained physical abuse, including injuries that doctors confirmed he could not have inflicted upon himself.
Documents seen by Daytona Beach News-Journal allege that between July 1, 2020, and January 1, 2024, Nelson did "willfully torture or maliciously punish, or willfully and unlawfully cage" the boy and willfully committed child abuse upon him causing "great bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement and ultimately death."
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Dr. Ruth Kohlmeier of the Medical Examiner's Office concluded that Zayke's death was a result of neglect and abuse, ruling it a homicide. Detectives affirmed that Nelson's actions directly led to her son's tragic demise.
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