ANDREW GORDON - 9 Months (2010) - Mount Pleasant (across the Harbor from Charleston) SC

A bond court judge denied bond Friday night, for a Mount Pleasant couple charged in the starving death of
their infant son, Andrew Gordon.



Police arrested Charles and Ashley Gordon Friday.



According to the report, they received a call on June 5th about a juvenile not breathing on Tomota Court.
Officers say the bedrooms upstairs smelled of urine and feces.
Police say the parents never been took Andrew to the doctor since his birth nine months ago.

Andrew weighed 8lbs, 4oz when he was born and weighed 6lbs, 9oz at the time of his death.

There were two other children in the home at the time. They were
taken into emergency protective services and turned over to DSS.

The Gordons are behind bars, charged with homicide by child neglect.
Police say they failed to supply the child with adequate food and health care.

According to the coroner, the cause of death was: Marasmus.
Marasmus is defined as malnutrition and emaciation (especially in children);
inadequate intake of food or malabsorption.

Mt. Pleasant parents arrested in baby's death denied bond
Posted: Jul 16, 2010 10:48 AM CDT
Updated: Jul 16, 2010 6:57 PM CDT

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (WCSC) - The parents of a 9-month old boy are in jail after police say their negligence led to the child's death.

Mount Pleasant police arrested Charles Lewis Gordon IV and Ashley Nicole Gordon, both of 1437 Tomota Court, and charged them with homicide by child neglect Friday morning. Both were denied bond Friday evening.

"The investigation revealed the defendants neglected to provide necessary care to sustain Andrew's life," said Mt. Pleasant Police Chief Harry Sewell.

At birth, Andrew Gordon weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces, but at his death just 9 months later, he only weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces. The boy's weight and length were far below normal.

The cause of death was determined to be Marasmus, a chronic undernourishment condition that occurs mostly in children. Marasmus is caused by a diet deficiency in calories and proteins.

Charles and Ashley Gordon have two other children. According to police they are fine and in the custody of the Dept. of Social Services.

During a press conference Friday, police said the couple was arrested based on extreme indifference to human life and that they failed to exercise due care for the child.

"The details of this investigation are horrific, and demonstrate the criminal nature of this neglect," Sewell continued. "His room was in complete disarray. His crib was stacked with soiled blankets and towels, and had multiple bottles of soured formula in it."

Police also said that the last time Andrew Gordon received medical care was when he was born at the hospital. According to police, the child also did not receive adequate food, shelter or healthcare.

The penalty for homicide by child neglect carries a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.

http://www.live5news.com/story/12818858/mt-pleasant-parents-arrested-in-babys-death-denied-bond?redirected=true