A 7-year-old, 7-pound boy died on Christmas Day. Now, 5 people have been arrested

Seven-year-old Deonte Atwell weighed seven pounds when he died last Christmas Day.

Now, five people including his mother, brother and grandfather have been arrested in connection to his death, according to the Broward State Attorney’s Office.

Deonte was born Dec. 23, 2016, as a “medically complex child” and was diagnosed with thoracic spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He required around-the-clock care and needed a breathing and feeding tube, authorities say.

Thoracic spina bifida is a spinal defect where the spine doesn’t close properly during development; hydrocephalus involvesan excessive buildup of the brain’s fluid.

Deonte’s mother, Michelle Doe, 37, along with four others, was arrested Tuesday and faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and manslaughter of a child.

Deonte’s 21-year-old brother Tyreck Irvin faces the same charges. His grandfather, James Graham, 70, faces charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child, neglect of a child and failure to report child abuse.

The three were arrested simultaneously in Fort Lauderdale so there would be no destruction of evidence, according to homicide Sgt. Donald Geiger.

Doe and Irvin are also charged with neglecting two other children, ages 9 and 16, living in the home. The children were found to be in good health; the neglect charges stem from being in the same home as Deonte while he was starved, said Fort Lauderdale Det. Jackie Sanchez.

Too late when 911 call came in

When Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire Rescue reached Deonte on Dec. 25, 2023, two days after his 7th birthday and following a 911 call for a child in respiratory distress, it was far too late, authorities say.

“It’s really unexplainable,” said Sanchez. “For them to have all the medical supplies and services that they had free of charge ... there’s no excuse. He was failed in several levels, and more so by his family.”

Deonte was declared dead less than an hour later at Broward Health Medical Center, but doctors said he had been dead for quite some time, authorities say.

“He had bones protruding from his skin from lack of nutrition,” said Sanchez.

Unopened bottles of formula

Investigators found 264 unopened bottles of his feeding formula in the house.

Deonte’s family are not the only ones who authorities say failed to provide care for him. The owner of the Medicaid provider, Mirlande Moltimer, 47, of Samaritin Home Care Provider in Miramar, which was supposed to provide care for him, is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, third-degree felony murder and neglect of a child.

Cassandre Lassegue, 33, the registered nurse who was supposed to take care of Deonte, has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter of a child, third-degree felony murder and neglect of a child.

She and Moltimer also face a Medicaid fraud charge. Authorities say they schemed to defraud Medicaid, conservatively estimated at more than $10,000 but less than $50,000.

Irvin, the brother, Moltimer, and Lassegue were jailed on no bond Wednesday morning. Graham’s bond was set at $22,000. He may be released on house arrest with an electronic GPS monitor if he posts bond.

Deonte’s mother, Doe, is set to appear in bond court Thursday morning.

“If anyone ever feels like someone is being mistreated or abused, there is a number that they can call and remain anonymous,” said Casey Liening, spokesperson for Fort Lauderdale Police. “That’s 866 Abuse.”