A Texas couple has been arrested and charged after authorities say their 9-month-old daughter was severely malnourished, having gained only approximately one pound since birth.
Background
The Gatesville Police Department began investigating the case on July 20 following a report of potential child neglect at a residence on North 27th Street in Gatesville, a small community roughly 40 miles west of Waco. Officers arrived at the home around 9 p.m. and immediately observed signs of extreme malnourishment, according to a criminal complaint obtained by KWTX and KCEN.
When paramedics transported the infant to Baylor Children's Medical Center in Temple, medical staff documented what they described as a critically underweight child whose ribs, collarbones, shoulder blades and spine were prominently visible beneath her skin. The girl's eyes appeared sunken and her skin was pale and loose, according to police records.
The mother, Jenny Sanchez, 23, reportedly told investigators the infant had been ill with influenza but asserted she had never taken the child for a medical checkup since birth. Sanchez added that she stopped breastfeeding when the baby was four months old, the complaint states. Rather than providing formula or appropriate nutrition, Sanchez allegedly said the child consumed only water and squeezable baby food.
The Charges
Sanchez and the father, Adariance Rahman, 22, have each been charged with one count of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury and one count of endangering a child. Gatesville police arrested Sanchez at the hospital while Rahman was taken into custody at the family residence.
Medical professionals at Baylor Children's Medical Center described the child as severely malnourished with skeletal abnormalities and diagnosed her with refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal condition that occurs when nutrients are reintroduced to someone who has been starved. According to the criminal complaint, one healthcare provider characterized the case as "one of the worst cases of malnourishment in an infant she has seen still living" and deemed the child's condition life-threatening.
Records indicate the infant weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces at birth. When admitted to the hospital, she weighed just 7 pounds, 16.3 ounces—gaining less than a single pound over nine months. Child Protective Services subsequently placed the critically ill girl into protective custody along with two other children residing in the home.
Key Takeaways
- Jenny Sanchez, 23, and Adariance Rahman, 22, face charges of injury to a child with serious bodily injury and endangering a child
- Police discovered the infant severely malnourished at a Gatesville residence on July 20
- The 9-month-old gained only approximately one pound since birth, weighing just under 8 pounds when hospitalized
- Medical staff diagnosed the child with refeeding syndrome; her condition was described as life-threatening
- One hospital worker called it "one of the worst cases of malnourishment in an infant she has seen still living"
- The mother allegedly never took the child to a doctor and fed her only water and squeezable baby food after stopping breastfeeding at four months
- Child Protective Services removed three children from the home, including the hospitalized infant
What's Next
Both defendants remain in custody pending arraignment. A court date has not yet been scheduled. Medical professionals have warned that even with treatment, the child may suffer permanent developmental delays affecting her growth, cognitive function and motor skills as a result of prolonged nutritional deprivation.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Gatesville Police Department.
Sources: Gatesville Police Department criminal complaint; KWTX; KCEN