Ten year old boy, weighs in at 35 pounds; Mother charged

[Sweetie]

Port St. Lucie mother charged after starving son goes door-to-door for food

By Ed Bierschenk
Port St. Lucie News
Posted June 10 2007, 11:15 PM EDT



PORT ST. LUCIE -- A 10-year-old boy reportedly weighing only 35 pounds was taken for medical treatment after being found knocking on doors Saturday evening asking for food.

The boy's mother, 37-year-old Kelleen Deon Murray Auguste, of the 900 block of Southwest Versailles Avenue, was arrested on a charge of felony child neglect. The state Department of Children and Families took custody of the six other minor children in the home, according to Port St. Lucie police.


Auguste is being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on $150,000 bail.

The 10-year-old's weight is less than half the normal weight of a boy his age, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

None of the other children appeared to be malnourished, police spokesman Robert Vega said.

"All of the kids were on the slender side, but none of the kids appeared to be malnourished to us," said Vega, who added the children reportedly were home-schooled.

He said Auguste, who is pregnant, has a total of nine children.

According to Vega, about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, a woman in the 900 block of Southwest Cornelia Avenue answered a knock on her door to find a young boy asking for food. The boy was filthy and disheveled, with matted hair. The woman started feeding the boy, then called 911.

The boy allegedly climbed out of a window at Auguste's home and went through the neighborhood looking for food. Vega said when officers spoke to the boy, he started telling them different stories, including that he had been living in the woods and in a shed in his backyard and that his name was Mike Tyson.

Based on his dehydrated and malnourished condition, the officers called an ambulance and the boy was transported to the St. Lucie Medical Center, then later taken to Palms West Hospital in Palm Beach County.

In the meantime, police received a call from Auguste, saying her 10-year-old son was missing. The officer who responded to that call informed Auguste that her boy was at the hospital.

That officer said he found no food in the refrigerator, freezer or pantry of the home. The home was reportedly clean, but had little furniture.

According to Vega, the mother said the extremely thin boy had been living in Haiti with his father, who dropped him off at her house in that condition about four weeks earlier.

Auguste reportedly said the boy had not been able to hold down any food since that time. The officer said Auguste, who reportedly has no medical insurance, did not seek medical attention for the boy.

Auguste is being held at the St. Lucie County Jail on $150,000 bond.

[sweetrebel]

All of the other kids were of normal weight and seemed to be in good health. It's possible that the boy had been with his father and was returned to her in that state, but doesn't explain why she didn't take him to the doctor or hospital.
Damn! 9 kids and pregnant again-she is only 37-a year younger than me.

[Sweetie]

That's a lotta a bredding isn't it? Better her than me.
Poor little guy.

[Merlot-N-Bali]

The kid was filthy and hair was matted. So in four weeks she couldn't give the kid a bath?? And with nine kids I'm quite sure her brood would qualify for Medicaid or even Florida KidCare which costs 15 bucks per month to cover ALL the kids in the household. No excuse for not having insurance for those kids. Stupid wench. I'm glad the kid got help before the worst happened though.

[DeadDwarf]

All of the other kids were of normal weight and seemed to be in good health. It's possible that the boy had been with his father and was returned to her in that state, but doesn't explain why she didn't take him to the doctor or hospital.
Damn! 9 kids and pregnant again-she is only 37-a year younger than me.

That IS possible, but typically abusers pick one child to abuse more than others. This mother could have singled this one child out and treated him like shit while feeding and caring for the other kids.

There are many abused children who grow up in homes where their other siblings are never abused.

My mother was emotionally and verbally abusive to me growing up. I am the only girl out of 4 children, she always praised my brothers and spoiled them rotten, but she treated me like shit. Sometimes there is one child who takes all the abuse, I was that kid.

[RevellingInSane]

How could one woman, who is obviously irresponsible, care for nine children. Take them all and sterilize her.

[buttmunch]

That IS possible, but typically abusers pick one child to abuse more than others. This mother could have singled this one child out and treated him like shit while feeding and caring for the other kids.

There are many abused children who grow up in homes where their other siblings are never abused.

My mother was emotionally and verbally abusive to me growing up. I am the only girl out of 4 children, she always praised my brothers and spoiled them rotten, but she treated me like shit. Sometimes there is one child who takes all the abuse, I was that kid.

Agree. Did you ever read the book 'A Boy named It'. I don't really recommend it (it was incredibly bad writing) but it was basically the story of a kid who was singled out by his mother for all the abuse.

And I agree that even if the kid was dropped off by the dad 4 weeks earlier, that doesn't explain him being dirty or having to go begging for food.

[Honey]

How sad poor boy

[Merlot-N-Bali]

Agree. Did you ever read the book 'A Boy named It'. I don't really recommend it (it was incredibly bad writing) but it was basically the story of a kid who was singled out by his mother for all the abuse.

I have read all three of that guy's books. You are right, bad writing but my goodness what a story. The abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother is just unfathomable. But he went on to do great things and now has a child of his own. Proof that people can rise above their pasts. He is inspiring.

[HockeyRules]

That IS possible, but typically abusers pick one child to abuse more than others. This mother could have singled this one child out and treated him like shit while feeding and caring for the other kids.

There are many abused children who grow up in homes where their other siblings are never abused.

My mother was emotionally and verbally abusive to me growing up. I am the only girl out of 4 children, she always praised my brothers and spoiled them rotten, but she treated me like shit. Sometimes there is one child who takes all the abuse, I was that kid.

Oh my gosh! I am so sorry. This is something I just don't understand. Reading this brought tears to my eyes. How can parents do this shit to their kids?! I too was abused, but in different ways. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you peace.

[SVZ]

I don't know what to believe...