Missouri Infant Found Malnourished on Diet of Mt. Dew and Sausages: 3 People Arrested

In rural Oldfield, Missouri, a tip to the state’s Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline led to the arrest of three individuals on child endangerment charges last Wednesday. What authorities discovered at the scene revealed a deeply troubling situation.

Disturbing Discovery at a Rural Home

Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, along with Children’s Division workers, visited a residence in Oldfield after receiving a tip. They found around 80 mature marijuana plants on the property but no one was home. An hour later, they returned to find the plants cut down and piled up, with 44-year-old Jammie J. White at the house.

White admitted to cutting down the plants and informed the deputies that 21-year-old Ashlee M. Dean and 25-year-old Nicholas W. Womble had fled into the woods with an 8-week-old infant after the initial visit. When called out by White, Dean and Womble emerged with the baby.

A Case of Severe Neglect

The infant was found in a severely malnourished state and was taken to a local hospital, where doctors learned the baby had not been given its prescribed medication. The parents had been feeding the infant goat milk replacement, mashed-up Vienna sausages, and Mountain Dew Code Red.

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The child was placed in state custody and is now receiving medical care. White, Dean, and Womble were arrested and charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, along with abuse or neglect charges. White is held on a $150,000 cash-only bond, while Dean and Womble are each held on $15,000 cash-only bonds. They are due back in court on September 3.

The Impact of Reporting

This case underscores the importance of reporting suspected child abuse. A single tip to the hotline may have saved this infant’s life. If you suspect a child is in danger, don’t hesitate to report it. Your actions could be life-saving.