A Kentucky couple was arrested after they allegedly forced the woman’s 1-year-old son to stay in a spider-infested basement and garage, and the boy ultimately died after he choked on his own used diapers.
Deavan Williams has been charged with wanton murder and first-degree child abuse of a child under age 12 in connection with the death of his girlfriend Alexandrae Price’s son. Meanwhile, Price, 22, was charged with child abuse.
Price allegedly left her toddler in Williams’ care and allowed him to neglect and abuse the child before the boy died on July 27 with “suspicious trauma, including mouth bleeding and body bruising,” according to an arrest warrant obtained by WLEX.
Williams, 22, reportedly told police he had fallen asleep while he was supposed to be watching the boy, and the baby “consumed portions of a feces-contaminated diaper” and choked.
“Williams admitted that he was [the child’s] primary caregiver and the only adult supervising [the child] during the time period immediately preceding the child’s collapse,” the arrest warrant stated, per the outlet.
Police said that Williams “knowingly subjected” the child to “extreme endangerment and cruel punishment,” which included “intentionally feeding him extremely spicy foods despite Alexandrae Price telling him to stop.”
Authorities also learned that Williams forced the boy to live in a basement that was filled with flies and spiders and an un-air-conditioned garage that was filled with “trash, beer cans, soiled diapers, and heavy cat urine, where the infant’s playpen sat directly on the contaminated floor.”
According to the arrest warrant, Williams “knew the baby had been eating a feces-filled diaper inside the playpen prior to becoming unresponsive.”
After authorities learned about the baby’s death, Williams reportedly admitted to investigators that the area where the boy had been kept was filled with “flies and spiders.”
“A large amount of trash and debris was also found in the living area, posing significant health hazards,” the warrant stated. “The living area was also reported to have high moisture levels and poor ventilation, posing a health hazard.”
Meanwhile, Price told police she would leave her son with Williams when she went to work. The child “lived and remained in a playpen” while in Williams’ care, and the area contained “animal urine, animal feces, raw sewage, decomposing animals, and other hazardous conditions that Williams personally described as containing pathogens and parasites.”
It is not currently clear whether Williams and Price have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests. They are both scheduled to appear in court for their preliminary hearings on Wednesday, August 12.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding the case.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
