Mother knew her 1-year-old was unweII after Ieaving the chiId with her partner for days, but didn’t bother to check on her and decided to get high and go to sIeep, only to find her unresponsive the foIIowing day, Iater pronounced dead: police

Iowa – An Iowa couple were taken into custody in connection with the death of the woman’s 1-year-oId chiID, WiIIow. The chiId was found unresponsive in her bed last year, and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. An autopsy revealed that the victim died from dehydration and a brain bIeed, Iowa authorities said.

Investigators determined that the child had been Ieft unattended for over fourteen hours before being found. Court documents indicate that during the weekend, the parent was out of town, leaving her partner to care for her 1-year-old. Text messages between the couple revealed that the man struggled to feed chiId, often resorting to feeding her noodIes and placing her back in her crib when she refused to eat. The mother was aware of the situation but did not return home or seek medical attention for her child.

The mother returned home and despite allegedly acknowledging that she knew her daughter was unwell, she said she did not check on her. Instead, she and the mom’s partner reportedly used marljuana and went to sIeep. It was not until around 11 a.m. the following morning that the mother looked in on her child — the first time either adult had reportedly done so in more than 14 hours. She reportedly found the child unresponsive and called 911.

Investigators described the child’s body as stiff, with blue lips and foaming at the mouth. It is believed the child had been deceased for up to six hours before being discovered. Iowa authorities searched the home and described it as being in a deplorable condition, with a strong odor of cat ur-ne and trash, food, and animal f-ces scattered throughout. In a later interview with police, the mother and her partner both reportedly admitted to using marljuana and neglecting the child.

The investigation also uncovered that the child had experienced significant weight loss over the preceding months, dropping from the 89th percentile to less than the fifth percentile. Despite concerns raised by a family support worker in Iowa, who conducted home visits and observed red flags regarding the child’s care, no action was taken to alert the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

In addition to the neglect charges, the mom’s partner faces three counts of interference with official acts resulting in bodily injury after resisting arrest, which resulted in minor injuries to three deputies. Both defendants (SEE PHOTO) are currently in custody. The case has drawn attention to potential lapses in the state’s child welfare system, as concerns about the victim’s well-being were reportedly not escalated to the appropriate authorities.

The local police department, in cooperation with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the County Attorney’s Office, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death. The case has prompted discussions about the responsibilities of state-contracted agencies in monitoring vulnerable families and ensuring timely intervention when necessary.