A 26-year-old mother in Indiana is facing neglect charges after nearly allowing her infant child to starve, with police officials describing the baby’s malnourished and emaciated state as reminiscent of a Holocaust survivor.
Last week, Christin Donat from Evansville was arrested by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office after an investigation conducted by Indiana’s Department of Child Services. During a press conference, local sheriff Noah Robinson informed reporters that a friend of Donat’s took her 2-month-old son to the hospital while she was at home resting after her shift at Dollar General.
The baby was found in a critical state, facing severe malnutrition, dehydration, and starvation, weighing only 6 pounds, 6 ounces — two ounces lighter than at birth,.
Robinson described the infant’s condition, noting it resembled that of someone who had endured extreme hardship. The child exhibited symptoms like severe weight loss, characterized by a sunken face and skin that appeared to hang from the bones, as the body had consumed all available fat in a desperate attempt to survive.
The boy made a complete recovery, adding 3 pounds “in just a few days” after being hospitalized, as noted by Robinson. This was a clear indication to DCS investigators of neglect, according to the sheriff.
At first, Donat stated that she was giving her son an ounce of formula about six times each day, but he was frequently spitting up a lot of it. She informed the authorities that she felt inundated with her job and various personal matters. However, hospital staff conducted “testing and observation” and determined that Donat’s account was false.
Robinson informed the press that without Donat’s friend bringing him in, the child would not have made it. He referred to them as a worried companion.
Donat, charged on Nov. 22, reportedly acknowledged that she could have acted differently and recognized that her child would have died without assistance. Robinson reported that a DCS case manager was summoned to the hospital by the doctors, leading to the initiation of a child neglect investigation shortly thereafter.
Donat remains in custody at the Vanderburgh County Jail with a bond set at $25,000.