Parents Charged After Starving Their Son to Death
- Jah’Meik Modlin died at a Harlem hospital after being found unresponsive at home.
- His parents, Nytavia Ragsdale and Laron Modlin, have been indicted on charges that include murder and manslaughter.
- The case has sparked outrage and highlighted severe child neglect in their household.
On October 13, 2023, in Harlem, a four-year-old boy was found unconscious and unresponsive at home. Jah’Meik Modlin weighed only 19 pounds at the time of his hospitalization and later died from severe malnutrition. His parents, Nytavia Ragsdale and Laron Modlin, have been indicted on multiple charges, including murder and manslaughter, for allegedly starving not just Jah’Meik but also his three siblings, who were also found to be severely malnourished. Prosecutors highlighted the extreme neglect and abuse experienced by the children in the household, noting that their refrigerator was maintained with food for the parents while they kept the children away from nourishment. The siblings remain hospitalized and received no education or medical care for years. This tragic case has raised alarms regarding child welfare in New York City.