ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A 22-year-old mother has been charged with failing to care for the well being of her seven-month-old son, resulting in his death.
Buchanan County Prosecutor Dwight Scroggins filed charges against Macayla Armstrong. She is accused of failing to provide food, nourishment, medical care and sanitary living conditions. Court documents indicate Armstrong’s infant son died of malnutrition.
The unsanitary conditions were inexcusable, according to Detective Frank Till with St. Joseph Police Department.
“Nothing you or I want to live in, and definitely not the norm for most people,” he said.
Scroggins agreed.
“The conditions and circumstances in which the child lived were very difficult very deplorable,” he said.
Armstrong also has a five-year-old daughter and is currently pregnant. St. Joseph police allege Armstrong is failing to take prenatal medicine, nor is she seeking doctor’s care during her pregnancy.
When asked about the five-year-old, Detective Frank Till with St. Joseph Police Department had this to say:
“That child is in a safe environment at this time. It’s with another family that’s caring for it.”
He said the other child appears to be physically okay.
A neighbor, who didn’t want to go on camera, said Armstrong properly provided for her children and is being treated unfairly. The woman says Armstrong is grieving the loss of her son.
A judge has set her bail at $50,000. She is expected in court on Tuesday at 9 a.m.