A Fort Lauderdale mother charged with the murder of her 7-year-old son, who weighed just seven pounds at the time of his death on Christmas Day, will remain in custody without bond.
Michelle Doe, 37, made her first appearance in a Broward courtroom on Thursday. She faces charges including first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse, and two counts of child neglect, all related to the death of her son, Deonte Atwell.
According to the Broward State Attorney’s Office, Atwell suffered from thoracic spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He required constant care, relying on both a breathing tube and a feeding tube. However, authorities claim that family members and two healthcare workers ceased providing necessary care, leading to severe abuse and ultimately his death.
Investigators believe Atwell endured months of suffering before his death, which was discovered on December 25, 2023, just two days after his 7th birthday. Prosecutors suspect he may have been dead “for quite some time” before being found.
Atwell was described as severely malnourished and neglected, weighing just seven pounds at the time of his death. His body showed signs of prolonged starvation, with bones protruding through his skin.
“The victim endured prolonged starvation amounting to willful torture,” a prosecutor stated during Doe’s court appearance.
During the investigation, authorities found 264 unopened bottles of Atwell’s feeding formula inside the home, further raising concerns about the neglect he faced.
In addition to Doe, four other individuals have been arrested in connection to Atwell’s death. His brother, 21-year-old Tyreck Irvin, faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse, and two counts of child neglect. His grandfather, 70-year-old James Graham, is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect, and failure to report child abuse.
The investigation also revealed that Atwell’s death occurred amid a scheme to defraud Medicaid, with estimates suggesting fraudulent amounts ranging between $10,000 and $50,000.
The owner of the home healthcare company, 47-year-old Mirlande Moltimer Ameda, has been charged with felony third-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, Medicaid fraud, and child neglect. Cassandre Lassegue, the nurse assigned to Atwell, is also facing charges of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, third-degree felony murder, aggravated child abuse, and Medicaid fraud.
During her court appearance, Doe was appointed a public defender and was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.
In a separate hearing held Thursday afternoon, Atwell’s father, Walter Atwell, was granted custody of Deonte’s two older siblings, ages 9 and 16.
“This is already a tough situation and I don’t want to make it any tougher,” Walter Atwell stated after the hearing.
