The uncle of a disabled 7-year-old boy who died of starvation despite family members keeping a stockpile of feeding formula at their home has become the fourth family member arrested in connection with his death.
Jeremy Graham, 31, the uncle of Deonte Atwell, was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday on charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child, neglect of a child and failure to report child abuse, according to police, WPLG-TV reported.
It's unclear if he entered a plea to the charges.
Police said that "information gathered throughout the investigation" led to his arrest, but did not elaborate, according to the outlet.
Graham is the fourth family member and sixth person taken into custody in relation to Deonte's death last December.
Previously, Deonte's mother, Michelle Doe, 37, and brother, Tyreck Irvin, 21, were both charged with first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse and two counts of neglect of a child, according to police.
His grandfather, James Graham, 70, was charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, neglect of a child and failure to report child abuse.
Home healthcare provider Mirlande Moltimer Ameda, 47, was charged with third-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, Medicaid fraud and neglect of a child; while the boy's nurse, Cassandre Lassegue, 33, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, third-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and Medicaid fraud.
Police first responded to Deonte's home on Christmas Day 2023 for a report of a medical emergency. He was according to WTVJ-TV.
Deonte "died of severe malnutrition and his bones were protruding through gaping holes in his skin," autopsy findings showed. The victim was diagnosed at birth as a 'medically complex child' with thoracic spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He had a breathing tube and feeding tube and required around-the-clock skilled nursing care," the Broward State Attorney's Office said, WPLG reported.
Detectives recovered 264 unopened bottles of Deonte's feeding formula at his home, according to prosecutors, who said the evidence suggested he died during a scheme to defraud Medicaid of thousands of dollars, per WFOR-TV.
