HPD investigating death of 9-year-old boy in SE Houston who appeared malnourished, investigators say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Houston police and neighbors say a 9-year-old boy who died early Monday morning reportedly looked thin and malnourished.

Officers were called to an apartment complex in the 11700 block of Algonquin Drive just before 5 a.m. when neighbors heard a mother screaming in her apartment for help.

Brandon Ashby, a neighbor who assisted the woman, found the child unresponsive on the floor.

Ashby, who lives upstairs, said he tried to give the little boy CPR. He says he had to move two younger children, 3 and 4 years old, out of the way.

"They were starving. They were so skinny," Ashby said through tears. "When I grabbed their arms, they were just like just little skeleton arms. And the baby, the one that passed, he was so skinny. I pumped as hard as I could, and I could see his knees. They were so big, like skeletons."

HPD and Houston Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene at the same time. Paramedics continued CPR on the boy and transported him to an area hospital.

The 9-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital an hour later, HPD said. Investigators and witnesses said the child appeared to be malnourished. HPD said he was very thin with his stomach sunk in.

His mother told HPD he suffered from recent medical issues.

"Based on the mother's comments, the child did have some recent medical conditions, as well as a long-term medical illness," Asst. Chief Chandra Hatcher said. "At this point in time, we don't know how that played or did not play into what occurred early in the morning."

In fact, the mother, who returned to her apartment later in the morning, argued with Ashby as he was telling his story. "He's lying, he's lying," she said. "(My son) has cystic fibrosis. He has failure to thrive. You don't even know their medical history!"

Investigators said the mother had two other children, a 4-year-old and a 3-year-old, who also appeared to be malnourished but did not require medical attention, Hatcher said.

The mother left the apartment later in the morning with her two other children and an unidentified friend. She did not want to answer reporters' questions.

Police said Child Protective Services has been contacted, and HPD's homicide investigators are speaking with the mother.

Hatcher said that because the child's cause of death has not yet been determined, it's too early to tell if foul play is involved.

The mother just moved in approximately two months ago, HPD said. Investigators said there was not much furniture in the apartment, though food was in the fridge.

Neighbors told police they had seen the children asking for food in the past.

Late Monday afternoon, CPS said it had no previous interactions with the family but has since opened an investigation.