DAVENPORT, Fla.—A 2-year-old girl in Florida weighing less than 10 pounds died of long-term starvation and her parents were arrested on child abuse charges.
Regis Johnson, 57, and Arhonda Tillman, 35, were arrested on Wednesday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. They were being held without bond.
When deputies responded Tuesday to a call about an unresponsive child, they found the girl dead in an inflatable pool being used as a playpen, the sheriff said.
An autopsy determined the 9.5-pound girl had an empty stomach and died from long-term starvation.
Judd said the child’s pediatrician told detectives there were concerns that she might have cystic fibrosis and the office had tried to reach the parents numerous times since her last visit in January 2020, according to the sheriff’s office.
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