GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A mother awaiting trial for the starvation death of her daughter is now charged with first-degree child abuse for the treatment of her young son, who was unable to hold his head up when found by police.
Brooklynne Davis was raising three children in a filthy, feces-strewn apartment in Grand Rapids, records show. When police went there in August, they found one child dead, one in critical condition, and a third, 8, dirty, but well-nourished, records show.
The 18-month-old girl, Skii, was dead, her twin brother “was lethargic and unable to hold his head up,” court records show.
Davis was recently charged with first-degree child abuse for causing “serious physical harm” to the boy, court records show. The felony is punishable by up to life in prison. A court hearing has been set for next week.
Davis told police she was aware the twins were losing weight, but “at no point did she contact a doctor for either the weight loss or the extreme diaper rash causing open sores,’’ an investigator wrote. “Brooklynne decided she would handle it all herself.”
The felony murder and child abuse case involving the 18-month-old girl is pending in Kent County Circuit Court. A status conference was held earlier this week. Davis remains in the Kent County Jail without bond.
When the 18-month-old boy arrived at the hospital back in August, doctors diagnosed him with dehydration, severe malnutrition, acute kidney injury, as well as broken skin amongst other findings, court records show.
“The twins’ diet consisted of Boost shakes, chicken nuggets, pancakes, French toast sticks and water,” an officer wrote in a probable cause affidavit. “She recognized that the twins were losing weight, so she bought protein shakes.”
The Grand Rapids Police Department on Aug. 22 responded to the woman’s apartment complex on Eastern Avenue south of Wealthy Street SE. The caller said her child had died.
First responders say they could not save the child, who was pronounced dead around 5:55 p.m.
According to a police report, the home was dirty, with sticky floors and dirty surfaces throughout. Police described the apartment as smelling like a mix of stagnant urine, feces, decaying food and smoke.
Police said the mother and children had body lice and bed bugs. The report said investigators found flies, gnats and cockroaches. The cockroaches were seen crawling around the kitchen, where the sink had stagnant water and dishes with old leftover food were spread out on the countertops.