FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (TCN) — Five people, including the victim’s mother and brother, have been charged in connection with the suspected starvation death of a 7-year-old boy who was so skinny that his bones “were protruding through gaping holes in his skin.”
According to the Broward County State Attorney’s office, on Dec. 25 at around 8 p.m., the Fort Lauderdale police and fire departments received a call about a child in respiratory distress. The victim was taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased. However, doctors reportedly said Atwell “appeared to have been dead for quite some time.”
He died two days after his birthday.
Atwell was born as a “medically complicated child” because he was diagnosed with thoracic spina bifida and hydrocephalus, or fluid in the brain. As a result, Atwell required breathing and feeding tubes, as well as 24-hour care. Fort Lauderdale Police investigators went to Atwell’s home and allegedly discovered 264 unopened bottles of Atwell’s feeding formula. The state attorney’s office also alleges that Atwell “died during a scheme to defraud Medicaid, conservatively estimated at more than $10,000 but less than $50,000.”
Atwell’s mother, 37-year-old Michelle Doe, and the boy’s 21-year-old brother, Tyreck Irvin, are both charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child, and two counts of neglect of a child related to a 16-year-old and 9-year-old who were also in the home. James Graham, Atwell’s grandfather, is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, neglect of a child, and failure to report child abuse.
Mirlande Moltimer, who is also known as Mirlande Ameda, owns and runs a Medicaid-provided company that was providing home care for Atwell. Moltimer has been indicted on charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child, third-degree murder, Medicaid provider fraud, and neglect of a child. Cassandre Lassegue, a registered nurse who worked for Moltimer’s company, is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child, third-degree murder, Medicaid provider fraud, and neglect of a child.
Those charged with first-degree murder could face life in prison or the death penalty if they are convicted.