THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) — A mother has been charged with child cruelty after investigators say her toddler was admitted to a Thomasville hospital in a "severely malnourished" state in January.
Police say Victoria Vann is facing charges for cruelty to children in the first degree after police were notified about a child who appeared to be neglected on Jan. 30.
When police arrived at Archbold Memorial Hospital, they were alerted that the child weighed less than 20 pounds at the time he was admitted to the hospital. At almost 2 years old, police say Vann's youngest child was the weight of a child much younger than himself.
"The child appeared severely malnourished," said Lt. Toby Knifer, the Thomasville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division commander.
The boy was later transported to the neonatal intensive care unit at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
Police say Vann took her youngest child to the hospital because he had been vomiting for eight days. According to Knifer, the child "was so dehydrated, he was at the point of kidney failure."
The investigator called it the worst malnourishment case he has witnessed in his 21 years in law enforcement. Officers said he might not have lived if his condition had been discovered any later.
"It was a constant battle to get the child in stable condition," Knifer said.
Knifer said the child is in stable condition now, is getting fluids and nourishment, and is gaining weight every day.
"If she had waited another day, the little boy might not be with us," Knifer said. "It appears he is going to pull through and be healthy when treatment is complete."
Vann was arrested on Jan. 31 and charged with cruelty to children in the first degree.
Officers said Vann has at least three other children living in the home. They were examined by medical professionals and were found not to be in same condition as their youngest sibling. The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services has taken custody of them.
