Mom Accused of Starving Infant Son Police Describe Condition as Holocaust Survivor Like
A 26-year-old mother from Evansville, Indiana, has been charged with child neglect after her two-month-old son was found severely malnourished, prompting police to describe his condition as resembling that of “a Holocaust survivor”, WFIE reports.
Christin Donat was arrested after her infant son was taken to Deaconess Gateway Hospital on November 6. The baby, who weighed just 6 pounds, 6 ounces—two ounces less than his birth weight—was suffering from extreme malnutrition, starvation, and dehydration, according to an affidavit reported by The Independent.
Sheriff Noah Robinson, speaking on the case, said the baby’s condition was akin to emaciated temporal wasting, marked by extreme weight loss and a sunken face. “One of the terms used to describe this child’s condition was almost as that of a Holocaust survivor,” Robinson stated.
The investigation revealed the baby had been rushed to the hospital by a friend after being removed from Donat’s care. Medical professionals described his skin as “hanging off” his arms due to the lack of fat reserves in his body.
Donat arrived at the hospital hours later, claiming she needed rest after working a shift at Dollar General. Initially, she told investigators she had been feeding her son one ounce of formula six times a day, but later admitted inconsistencies in her account. Disturbingly, hospital staff had to intervene as Donat reportedly failed to feed her son properly, even under medical supervision.
According to the affidavit, Donat expressed some regret, stating, “she should have done things differently.” However, Sheriff Robinson concluded that Donat demonstrated “deliberate indifference to the needs of the child.”
The baby has since been removed from Donat’s custody and placed with a foster family. Donat is being held at the Vanderburgh County Jail on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
This tragic case underscores the critical importance of recognizing and addressing neglect to prevent such severe consequences for vulnerable children.