St. Louis, Missouri — A Missouri mother is facing serious criminal charges after authorities discovered two young children suffering from extreme malnutrition, a case that resulted in the death of one toddler and left another hospitalized in critical condition.
Investigators say the heartbreaking case came to light last week when emergency responders were called to a residence in St. Louis and found two young sisters in alarming condition.
The children’s mother, 29-year-old Sausha Myers, has since been charged with two counts of child abuse and is being held without bond while the investigation continues.
Toddler Dies After Being Taken to Hospital
According to court documents, a 20-month-old girl identified by relatives as Sky was found unresponsive and without a pulse.
Emergency responders transported the child to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Authorities said the toddler showed signs of severe malnutrition and other medical complications.
Investigators also discovered that the child’s 3-year-old sister, identified by family members as Star, was in similarly poor condition and required immediate medical treatment.
She was admitted to a hospital intensive care unit, where doctors began treating her health issues. The criminal complaint alleges that both children were significantly underweight for their ages when they were discovered.
Investigation Reveals Concerns About Children’s Care
According to investigators, Myers told authorities she was the primary caregiver for both children and was aware that they were not developing normally.
Court documents state that neither child had visited a doctor in more than a year. Investigators allege that the younger child’s diet consisted largely of yogurt, fruit pouches, and vegetable pouches.
Police say evidence gathered during the investigation raised concerns about the amount of nutrition the children were receiving.
Authorities also reported that the surviving child displayed signs consistent with severe malnutrition, including the development of lanugo, a fine body hair that can appear when the body lacks sufficient fat and nutrition.
The exact cause and manner of the younger child’s death will ultimately be determined through the medical examiner’s investigation.
Grandmother Says Family Lost Contact Years Ago
The children’s grandmother, Driyah Boss Milon, said the family had been unable to reach Myers for approximately two years before learning of the tragedy.
In an emotional public statement, Milon described efforts by relatives to locate and contact her daughter after communication suddenly stopped.
According to Milon, family members repeatedly attempted to reach Myers through phone calls, emails, and other methods but were unsuccessful.
She said relatives did not know exactly where Myers was living during that time.
Milon also expressed disbelief over the allegations, saying she believes her daughter may have been struggling with serious mental health issues.
“I don’t know what my daughter was going through,” Milon said. “There is no way my daughter would have just starved her babies like that.”
She suggested that untreated mental health challenges could have played a role in the situation, though authorities have not publicly addressed that possibility.
Custody and Legal Proceedings Continue
The case has also drawn attention to broader family circumstances.
According to the grandmother, Myers’ three older children had previously been removed from her custody and now live with relatives.
Meanwhile, Milon said she is working with government agencies in hopes of obtaining custody of the surviving child and arranging funeral services for her deceased granddaughter.
The criminal case against Myers remains active, and prosecutors have not announced whether additional charges could be filed as the investigation progresses.
Authorities continue gathering evidence while medical experts complete examinations related to the case.
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