Boy relying on feeding tube dies on Christmas, weighing 7 lbs, while 264 formula bottles remained unopened

A devastating case in Florida has left the community reeling after the death of Deonte Atwell, a 7-year-old boy with spina bifida who required “round-the-clock care,” authorities said.

Deonte, who depended on a feeding tube and a breathing tube, died on Christmas Day, just two days after his birthday. At the time of his death, he weighed just seven pounds, prompting prosecutors to accuse his family and caregivers of causing his death through severe neglect, starvation and alleged Medicaid fraud.

Broward County authorities were horrified to discover that Deonte, who had been diagnosed at birth with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, had been living in deplorable conditions. They found 264 unopened bottles of formula in the family’s Fort Lauderdale home—bottles that should have nourished the boy but instead remained unused.

The boy’s bones were protruding through gaping holes in his skin, a clear sign of extreme malnutrition. Investigators suspect Deonte may have been dead for some time before a 911 call was made, reporting that the child was in “respiratory distress.”

The child’s mother, Michelle Doe, 37, along with his brother, Tyreck Irvin, 21, and his grandfather, James Graham, 70, are all facing serious charges for their roles in Deonte’s death.

Doe and Irvin have been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter and neglect of two other children in the home, ages 9 and 16. In addition to those charges, Graham faces aggravated manslaughter, child neglect, and failure to report abuse. While Graham was granted a $22,000 bond, the others remain in custody without bail.

These doesn’t end with the family. The nurse assigned to Deonte’s care, Cassandre Lassegue, 33, and home care business owner, Mirlande Moltimer, 47, have also been charged with third-degree felony murder, child neglect, Medicaid provider fraud and aggravated manslaughter.

Lassegue, who had a duty to provide skilled nursing care, allegedly abandoned her responsibilities for months, although records show she falsely claimed to have continued her visits. Prosecutors argue that her neglect contributed to Deonte’s death, and she now faces a first-degree murder charge as well.

This case sheds a disturbing light on the exploitation of Medicaid and the neglect of vulnerable children in home care. Prosecutors believe that, rather than providing Deonte the care he desperately needed, his mother and the caregivers were focused on defrauding Medicaid of between $10,000 and $50,000.

The boy’s severe malnutrition and the presence of unopened feeding formula indicate that there were ample resources available to keep him alive, yet those responsible failed to act.

After Deonte’s death, Doe started a GoFundMe campaign claiming her son had died due to complications from his birth defects. However, prosecutors paint a much darker picture, alleging that she prioritized financial gain over the well-being of the child.

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All these monsters that played a role in Deonte’s death face the possibility of life in prison if convicted.

Stay tuned for updates.