Auburn parents arrested after 6-year-old son, who sustained prolonged maltreatment, dies
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Auburn parents are facing charges after their six-year-old son, who sustained prolonged maltreatment, died.
The investigation began when Auburn police, fire and Emergency Medical Service personnel where dispatched out to the 2200 block of Core Drive in the city’s Morgan Hills neighborhood on June 14, 2023, in reference to a call of a child in medical distress.
First responders discovered a six-year-old male child unresponsive and not breathing when they arrived on scene and immediately began life-saving measures in attempts to revive the child.
“The child was transported to the East Alabama Health (EAH) where additional life-saving measures continued,” police said. Lee County Coroner Daniel Sexton confirmed to CNAW2NEWS.com the child, identified as six-year-old Sulivan Watford, was pronounced deceased at 6:08 P.M. despite the efforts of first responders and East Alabama Health medical personnel. The boy was taken to Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for a post mortem exam.
While investigating, Auburn Police Department investigators learned of suspicious circumstances surrounding the six-year old’s death. “Evidence consistent with a drowning was discovered during both medical treatment and post-mortem examination,” police said.
Investigators also learned the child appeared to be extremely malnourished to the extent the six-year-old child weighed approximately 21 pounds. “Additional evidence was discovered that supported the child had sustained prolonged willful abuse and maltreatment,” police added.
The investigation led to the arrest of the child’s parents, Mark Edward Watford and Kelly West Watford. Mark Watford was charged with aggravated child abuse. Kelly Watford was charged with felony murder. Mark Watford is being held on a $30,000 bond while Kelly Watford is being held on no-bond.
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