'Extremely malnourished' toddler found in Pennsylvania home; mother charged with neglect
BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A very young abuse victim is finally getting the care he deserves and needs thanks to the actions of a concerned tipster.
Child protective services officers found the "extremely malnourish" 27-month-old toddler in a Bristol Township apartment last month after receiving a tip about his condition.
By the numbers:
The boy was taken to a local hospital, weighing only 19 pounds, which officials say is the weight of a typical 9-month-old. He has since gained 10 pounds under the hospital's care.
"The boy’s motor skills had declined, and his decline in health led to low heart rate, low respiratory rate and electrolyte disturbances," a doctor noted in a 15-page report.
The doctor also stated that the toddler's mother, Breanna Marie Newman, never sought medical attention.
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The backstory:
Officials say Newman first moved from Indianna to Pennsylvania to live with a man she met online, then moved again to Montgomery County with a new boyfriend before moving a final time to Bristol Township with a female friend.
"The friend noticed Newman’s son had dramatically lost weight and his health had been declining. She informed Newman of a medical assistance program, but Newman refused, fearing it could lead to her losing custody of her son," the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said.
Newman is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, and is being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility under $250,000 bail.
The Source: Information for this article was provided by the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.