GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A Gaston County toddler is in the hospital after prosecutors said his mother intentionally starved him.
According to the arrest warrant, 3-year-old Kameron White was near death when paramedics arrived. He had acute liver failure, respiratory failure, brain atrophy and other serious issues.
[ County-by-county child protection resources ]
Paramedics were called to the family’s home last week. According to prosecutors, the boy’s mother said she thought he was having a seizure. EMS found the child in very serious condition.
Medical staff was reportedly concerned that his mother, Shameka White, showed no emotion over her son’s serious condition.
They said the boy was half the weight of a child his age and his body temperature was 83 degrees. The warrants said the physical trauma of starving eventually caused scarring and bruising over most of his body.
Shameka White is now charged with felony intentional child abuse.
Prosecutors said that charge came after consulting doctors at Levine Children’s hospital.
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“He’s still on life support right now in Charlotte, that this was an intentional starvation of this particular child. The doctor actually sent over that information and that opinion on Friday,” said Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Hamlin.
Channel 9′s Ken Lemon spoke to Kameron’s father, who went to the hearing hoping to get custody and hoping his son will survive this.
He said he and Kameron’s mother split up almost two years ago and he had little contact with his son since. He also shared a photo of him with his son taken 18 months ago.
“You could see in the picture, you know what I’m saying, how happy he was. He was a happy baby,” Dequan Thompson said.
The prosecutor said Kameron held down his food for the first time Sunday, but he is not out of the woods yet. His condition is still dire and that could mean more charges for his mother.
“This last couple of nights, I couldn’t sleep cause all I can do is think about what he’s going through,” Thompson said. “It just hurt me to my heart. What parent does that?”
Shameka White had three other children living with her. They are now in custody of Child Protection Services.
No other details have been released at this point.
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