A young mom from Indiana is facing 65 years for child neglect after “forgetting“ to feed her son and he perished. 🔗⬇️💬

 

Leah Berenson

December 20, 2024

Mom Jailed for Starving Baby to Death Claiming she Forgot to Feed Him

There’s no denying that being a parent is hard, and most people can sympathize with the struggles. However, one mom seemingly ignored some of her responsibilities and her infant lost his life.  As a result, she’s facing significant charges on the grounds of child neglect.

A Tragic Tale of Child Neglect

Image Credit: Jakob Scott

Caylin Monroe from Boonville, Indiana was 23 years old when her 3-month-old son passed away early in 2022. After an ongoing investigation that began in February of 2022, evidence arose proving that Monroe was guilty of child neglect. Allegedly, “forgetting” to feed her son.

Forgetful Parenting

The young mother claims she was busy taking care of her other children. Admittedly, she often forgot to feed young Silas Chance-Kent Scott unless he’d cry to be fed. According to Courier & Press, she was interviewed by law enforcement and told them she thought she fed him earlier that day. Meanwhile, the baby’s father, Jakob Scott, who was 22 at the time, claimed he also couldn’t recall if the baby had been fed on the day of his passing. Furthermore, he chillingly confirmed Monroe’s explanation that sometimes Silas wasn’t fed if he didn’t cry. Due to the events, and an autopsy report proving the infant didn’t have any sign of anything in his stomach, both parents were under investigation for child neglect. 

A Second Offense of Child Neglect

Image Credit: YouTube

Sadly, DCS (Indiana’s Child Services department) had already investigated Monroe for an incident of child neglect with another one of her children. Purportedly, she was mandated to keep a food log to ensure her children were properly and regularly fed. Therefore, the investigation was opened shortly after the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from Monroe or Scott, about “an unresponsive infant.

A Guilty Verdict

Unsurprisingly, the mother and father have gotten very little sympathy. Instead, Monroe was charged with murder and child neglect (neglect of a dependent) and sentenced to 65 years. On  November 15th, 2024, about a month after she was found guilty, Monroe was sentenced, according to Warrick County court records. Meanwhile, Scott, who is also facing charges of murder and child neglect, pleaded not guilty in September. His trial was set to start in November. However, it was canceled and he was facing a “status conference” on December 2nd. According to Cornell, a status conference is a court-ordered meeting between a judge and the legal counsel for both parties to discuss and determine how things will proceed.

 Undisclosed Verdict

Although there hasn’t been a reported update regarding the results of Scott’s status conference, it’s likely that he will face a similar sentencing for child neglect. Either way, most parents know that not feeding your baby isn’t an option. However, some parents may be unaware of how much is too little, or too much. The CDC has helpful guidelines to offer clarity. While not all babies are the same, these guidelines are based on averages. However, they can be slightly altered to fit your baby’s individual needs. 

CDC Recommendations for Feeding a Baby

As a newborn, your baby’s tummy is small so they won’t each much at a time. However, their precious little bodies are growing and will need to eat pretty consistently. Most likely, they’ll eat every 1-3 hours. As they grow, nursing times will vary but get longer. For instance, a baby who’s a few weeks old will probably want to eat every 2-4 hours but will probably nurse for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, they may have longer sleep periods of 4-5 hours between meals. Meanwhile, a baby who’s a few months old will nurse for around 45 minutes at a time. 

However, the general rule is that a baby should be eating 8-12 times in a 24-hour period but growth spurts will cause disruption to sleep and eating. For instance you might notice your baby eating more than normal but sleeping less, and a few days later the opposite is true. You might be stunned to find that your baby is slightly taller and heavier than they were this morning, having literally grown right before your eyes with the help of a few great meals and some solid naps. 

Reporting Child Neglect

Child neglect is something few parents can imagine. However, it does happen. Fortunately, state and national resources like CPS and the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, are here to help, 24/7 and are totally confidential. Incredibly, the hotline has over 170 language options so almost anyone in need of services can have access. 

Read More: Teacher Sentenced To 50 Years For Sexually Assaulting 7-year-old Student, Conspiring To Kill Him