John Jefferson
Left: Cody Alfred. Right: Jayda McDowell (Hopkins County Jail)
A mother and father are behind bars after they refused to feed their 3-year-old daughter solid foods, which led to malnourishment and severe tooth decay, Kentucky police said.
Cody Alfred and Jayda McDowell, both 32, are each facing a charge of first-degree criminal child abuse. According to a criminal complaint, the child was taken to the Hopkins County Health Department for a WIC appointment on July 12. Staff recognized the girl as unwell and determined her hemoglobin levels to be dangerously low, Madisonville Detective Kyle Dame wrote in the complaint. They told McDowell to take the girl to a pediatrician immediately. The pediatrician had the girl transported via ambulance to the emergency room.
The child was admitted to a children’s hospital for a rapid heart rate and “appearing chronically ill and malnourished.” She also needed a blood transfusion and a dental consult “due to severe tooth decay and tartar buildup.” Investigators determined the girl’s diet consisted of a gallon of milk a day through a bottle without any sold food, the complaint said.
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Her parents also were supposed to see a doctor for a follow-up appointment in 2021 about a hole in the girl’s heart, but they never took her, the complaint said. They also missed a cardiology appointment in 2023.
“It’s difficult to describe the poor condition of [redacted] teeth,” doctors wrote. “The level of decay and tartar buildup was like nothing I’ve ever seen. The level of pain associated with trying to eat with teeth in [redacted] condition would be unbearable.”
The parents also ignored instructions on five occasions to take the girl to the dentist, cops say. Their actions have “undoubtedly” put the girl in a situation that could cause “serious physical injury,” cops said.
Evansville, Indiana, NBC affiliate WFIE reports the girl is now in the custody of social services and is doing better.
Police took McDowell and Alfred to the Hopkins County jail on Saturday where they remain on a $1,000 bond.
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