Three people have been arrested in the death of a 2-year-old girl who weighed less than 10 pounds in Florida.
The parents, Regis Johnson, 57, and Arhonda Tillman, 35, were arrested Thursday on child abuse charges. The little girl’s uncle who lived with them, Frank Robinson, 64, was also arrested on charges of negligent child abuse and failure to report child abuse.
Deputies arrived at the home on Tuesday after Johnson reported his daughter being “cold”. Inside, deputies found the 34-month-old, dead in a makeshift playpen.
An autopsy of the child showed she had an empty stomach and died from long-term starvation. She was only 9.5 pounds.
In 2019, the Department of Children and Families opened an investigation with the Tillman and Johnson for medical neglect of their child. This came after the girl was losing weight and the parents failed to take her to the doctor. However, the case was later closed because the child seemed to have gained weight.
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Tillman and Johnson took their baby to the pediatrician as instructed by social services until January 2020. The last time the child saw the doctor, he raised concerns that she might have cystic fibrosis. The parents never brought her back and didn’t return any of the phone calls from the doctor.
The parents both insist their child never wanted to eat. They both claim they tried to feed her, but she always refused to eat.
Tillman and Johnson are currently being held without bond.
At 11:25 a.m. on Monday, the Dallas Police Department responded to a call of an injured child.
Officers arrived to the home located in the 2800 block of Silkwood Street with Dallas Fire and Rescue en route. Inside the residence first responders located a 5-year-old boy dead. The little boy’s body showed significant signs of trauma.
Witnesses were taken to the Child Advocacy Center for questioning as part of the investigation.
Dallas Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit will be leading the case.
