AL - Sulivan Watford, 6, 21 pounds, parents of 7 kids mom: LPC dad: RN, claimed son died from vapor rub reaction, Auburn, 20 Jun ‘23 *arrests*

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OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) – Stunning new details emerge during Wednesday’s bond hearing as testimony reveals the Auburn mother, who police say killed her emaciated son, was a licensed counselor who claimed the child died from a reaction to vapor rub.

A Lee County Judge is deciding if Kelly Watford will be released on bond. Before adjourning the Aniah’s hearing Judge Russell Bush said pictures of six-year-old Sulivan Watford, taken by Auburn police shortly after his death are “like nothing he has ever seen outside of Holocaust documentaries.” A postmortem exam indicated Sulivan weighed just 21 pounds at the time of his death. Judge Bush said he would issue his decision on bond within 48 hours.

47-year-old Kelly Watford entered the courtroom for Wednesday’s Aniah’s hearing wearing prison coveralls, her gray hair in a half braid. During the entirety of the hearing, Watford kept her head down and never looked at anyone. Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom per the request of Watford’s defense team, so we were unable to record video or testimony. Journalists were permitted to take notes as Lee County prosecutors Garrett Saucer and Clay Thomas argued Watford was a clear danger to society and should be held without bail. Watford’s defense attorney argued she should get a bond.

According to Wednesday’s testimony, Watford is a licensed professional counselor who had worked at the Lee County Department of Mental Health. The child’s father, Mark Watford, is facing Aggravated Child Abuse associated with Sulivan’s death. Mark Watford has made his $30,000 bond. WRBL did not see Mark Watford in court, but we did confirm via testimony he is a registered nurse who works at an Opelika plasma center. According to testimony the family homeschooled their seven children and had not taken them to a doctor since COVID-19 hit. It appears Sulivan may have never been to a pediatrician.

Judge: Autopsy photos of Auburn boy echo Holocaust images

OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) – Stunning new details emerge during Wednesday’s bond hearing as testimony reveals the Auburn mother, who police say killed her emaciated son, was a licensed counselor wh…

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According to a press release from the Auburn Police Department, APD officers, the Auburn Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Services personnel on the morning of June 14 responded to an emergency call regarding a child in distress at a home located in the 2200 block of Core Drive. Upon arriving at the scene, first responders say they located a 6-year-old boy — later identified as Sulivan — who was unresponsive and not breathing.

“Despite the best efforts of first responders and EAH medical personnel, the child was pronounced deceased by EAH attending physicians,” the police release states.

“Evidence consistent with a drowning was discovered during both medical treatment and post-mortem examination,” police wrote in the release. “In addition, APD investigators 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.”

Judge berates mom accused of starving, drowning son, saying boy looked like something out of a 'Holocaust documentary'

Kelly West Watford and Mark Edward Watford are charged in the death of their 6-year-old son, who a judge said looked like something out of a "Holocaust documentary" at the time of his death.

lawandcrime.com