An 11-year-old boy, who was found locked in a room by his mother, has been rescued after being discovered underweight and covered in feces.
Police in Baytown, Texas, arrested Rachel Nicole Blaylock, 40, following an urgent welfare check at their trailer home regarding her child. Upon entering the residence, officers were met with a strong fecal odor and an infestation of flies.
The child, who is non-verbal and autistic, was located in a bedroom weighing only 46 pounds (20kg) with fecal matter on his skin and under his fingernails. Investigators revealed that he had been confined to the room using a screen door lock from the outside, allowing Blaylock to monitor him.
Described as dirty and filthy, the boy’s bedroom was covered in feces, according to an officer present at the scene. Blaylock was instructed to take her son to the hospital, but she responded with resistance.
Medical professionals diagnosed the boy with severe autism and significant dental decay, indicating neglect. Blaylock faces charges of injury to a child and possession of methamphetamine in a separate incident, with a bond set at $250,000 (£186,000).
Allegations from the boy’s grandmother claimed he was frequently confined to his room, preventing her from providing him with food or water. She criticized Blaylock’s parenting, stating that she did not engage much with her son.
Previous reports from Child Protective Services had advised Blaylock to seek medical attention for the child due to his dangerously low weight. The average weight for an 11-year-old boy in the US is 79 pounds (35kg).