A Cincinnati mother is facing child endangerment charges after prosecutors claim her 2-year-old daughter arrived at a hospital in January so thin and weak that she weighed only 17 pounds.
Naomi Holloway, who lives in West Price Hill, appeared at Hamilton County court yesterday to face the charge. According to court documents and prosecutors, physicians described the girl as malnourished and noted a serious injury on her behind that caused the skin to peel. Prosecutors also told the court that Holloway admitted to leaving the toddler alone for 12-hour stretches when she went to work.
During the hearing, an assistant prosecutor described the child’s health to the judge, citing medical records and court papers that detailed the alleged negligence, according to WKRC Local 12.
According to court filings, the toddler was “deprived of adequate food and water over a prolonged period of time,” and medics discovered peeling damage on her buttocks. According to WKRC Local 12, the infant weighed around 17 pounds at the time of the January medical visit, as stated by the assistant prosecutor in court.
The case comes in the midst of many child-safety investigations in West Price Hill and surrounding areas this year. According to WCPO, detectives analyzed security video and suspended the license of a local day-care business in West Price Hill.
In a different instance, recent coverage chronicled a Westwood toddler’s hospital nightmare, which culminated in felony charges against a Cincinnati couple, demonstrating how rapidly medical crises involving young children can escalate into criminal proceedings.
Endangering children (Ohio Rev. Code § 2919.22) can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, based on the severity of the injury and the defendant’s prior record. Prosecutors weigh the evidence to determine which level is appropriate. Penalties range from fines and local jail time to state prison sentences and other consequences, as specified in the Ohio Revised Code.
Prosecutors charged Holloway with child endangerment after studying medical data and court filings. The matter is currently proceeding through Hamilton County’s legal system. Local 12 has the first public report and court documents. We will keep track of hearings and new filings as they become available.
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