Authorities have accused a couple of starving their 4-year-old son, Jah’Meik Modlin, to death over a two-year period. PEOPLE reports Nytavia Ragsdale and Laron Modlin now face murder charges after allegedly keeping him in an apartment covered in feces.

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Details On Couple Accused Of Starving Jah’Meik Modlin To Death

On Nov. 6, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Jr. revealed that Nytavia Ragsdale, 26, and Laron Modlin, 25, faced indictment following their son Jah’Meik’s death on Oct. 14. Jah’Meik, weighing only 19 pounds, suffered from severe malnutrition, dehydration, and starvation, and nearly no body fat. The couple also has three other children who were taken to the hospital as well.

PEOPLE states Laron Modlin called 911 at 7:42 p.m. on Oct. 13, saying Jah’Meik was unresponsive. Jah’Meik and his three siblings, ages 5, 6, and 7, went to the hospital, where Jah’Meik died early the following day. ABC7 adds that the siblings remain hospitalized due to malnutrition. Officials observed that Jah’Meik and his siblings arrived at the hospital covered in dirt, with feces tangled in their hair. Prosecutors noted that the children had severely limited motor skills and couldn’t feed themselves, though they are gradually improving with nutrition.

Per ABC7, Nytavia and Laron allegedly blocked their four children’s access to food for two years while buying food for themselves. The couple turned the refrigerator to face the wall, keeping it full but unusable. An official press revealed that food cabinets had zip ties on the handles. One bedroom contained feces, and the floor had layers of dirt and excrement. The walls showed feces stains up to a child’s height. Court documents showed that the room had a lock on the outside. Broken furniture and a mattress covered in feces lay inside the room. PEOPLE notes that the children hadn’t attended school or seen a doctor in over two years, and their parents limited contact with others to “hide” the children’s “deteriorating conditions.” 

More Info About The Parents & What’s Next For Them?

According to ABC7, Nytavia Ragsdale and Laron Modlin initially faced charges of manslaughter and child endangerment, later raised to second-degree murder. District Attorney Bragg called Jah’Meik Modlin’s death a tragedy and has left the city of Harlem heartbroken.

“The death of Jah’Meik Modlin, an innocent four-year-old child, is a tragedy that has scarred this city. That he died a slow and painful death, starving alongside his older siblings, somehow isolated in the heart of Harlem, is a stain on our collective conscience,” DA Bragg said.

Additionally, DA Bragg confirmed that the Child Abuse Bureau is working to bring justice for the 4-year-old.

“Our Child Abuse Bureau is working diligently to secure justice for Jah’Meik and to support his three siblings during this immensely difficult process,” DA Bragg added.

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