AL - Sulivan Watford, 6, dies of starvation and drowning, Auburn, June 22, 2023 *parents arrested*

[Ebon]

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

Two parents in Alabama were arrested for abusing, starving, and ultimately killing their 6-year-old son, who a judge said looked like a victim from a “Holocaust documentary” when he drowned inside their family home earlier this week. Kelly West Watford and Mark Edward Watford were taken into custody last week and charged in connection with the death of young Sulivan Watford, authorities announced.

Kelly Watford, 47, is facing one count of felony murder and is being held at the Lee County Jail without bond while Mark Watford, 52, has been charged with one count of aggravated child abuse. He was released from detention after posting a $30,000 bond.

The Watfords had seven kids together before Sulivan’s untimely death.

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.

“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.”

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Prosecutors filed a motion Wednesday, June 28, asking a judge to prohibit defendants from contacting their minor sons as well as their 19-year-old son except through their attorneys. Defense lawyers for Kelly and Mark Watford will have an opportunity to respond before the judge rules.

Based on the motion filed Wednesday, prosecutors believe Kelly Watford is in constant communication from jail with her oldest child, who is a material witness in the case against his mother and father. The state is concerned the son and other minor child witnesses are subject to coercion by their parents, and/or third parties at the direction of the co-defendant, both of whom are charged in the case. Prosecutors are simultaneously filing a corresponding motion, to prohibit Mark Watford from contacting the child witnesses, including the oldest son, except through attorneys. We will let you know the defense’s response and court ruling.

Lee County Judge Russell Bush has already denied bond for 49-year-old Kelly Watford who is charged with the Felony Murder of her son Sulivan, the youngest of Kelly and Mark Watford’s seven sons. Mark Watford, a registered nurse, is facing charges of Aggravated Child Abuse in connection with Sulivan’s death and is out on bond. The couple lost custody of all the boys after Sulivan’s death.

Parents’ possible coercion of child witnesses concerns prosecutors in Auburn child drowning

AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – Lee County prosecutors are concerned the Auburn mother accused of starving and drowning her six-year-old son and her husband, who is also charged in the case, may try to…

www.wkrg.com

 

[tlcya]

AUBURN, Ala. (TCD) -- Police arrested a licensed counselor and her husband, a registered nurse, last week after their 6-year-old malnourished son died.
[snip]
Judge Russell Bush saw pictures of the victim taken by Auburn police and reportedly said they were "like nothing he has ever seen outside of Holocaust documentaries."
Alabama nurse and wife arrested after malnourished 6-year-old son drowns

these people have education, responsible jobs, ostensibly good salaries, WTH is wrong with them, it's not as if they don't know better FGS?

as to @imstilla.grandma's link above, how are they even allowed to contact the children? Are they placed with family members who are allowing this contact? IF so then start there and remove them from those family members! Good lord, this is not rocket science. The parents have been charged with abuse to the point of death of one of their children, remove the surviving kids and place them with an outside party who has no dog in this fight!

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Investigators collected additional evidence from the final post-modem exam by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and submitted it to the Lee County District Attorney’s Office to be presented to the grand jury.

Mark Watford was taken to the Lee County Jail, where he is being held with no bond. Kelly Watford is also being held on no-bond

Auburn father indicted on felony murder for death of 6-year-old child

An Auburn father’s original aggravated assault charge in the death of his child upgraded to felony murder after a recent grand jury indictment.

www.wtvm.com

 

[tlcya]

still can't get over this one. A nurse and a counselor. These weren't some uneducated poor drug addicts. These people knew better, had so many more things going for them than some of the parents we see in these abuse/murder cases, and yet the CHOSE to kill their child. disgusting.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Auburn police arrested the boy’s father, 53-year-old Mark Edward Watford yesterday after a grand jury indicted him. He had originally been charged with aggravated child abuse. The father is being held without bond.

The boy’s mother, Kelly West Watford, had already been arrested on a felony murder charge on June 14, 2023, police say.

ACTION 8 UPDATE: Parents charged with murder in death of 6-year-old boy in Auburn - WAKA 8

The parents of a six-year-old boy who died in Auburn last year have been charged with felony murder.

www.waka.com