BATON ROUGE, LA– A Louisiana mother is facing charges of first-degree murder after police say she starved her 3-year-old son to death while the child’s father was away for work. The case has deeply disturbed the Baton Rouge community and reignited questions about unnoticed child neglect in vulnerable households.
The Baton Rouge Police Department responded to a 911 call on July 25 after receiving reports of an unresponsive toddler at a home in the 1100 block of N Ardenwood Drive.
According to police reports, the mother, Antionette Butler, initially claimed the boy had choked on food. But paramedics and medical examiners quickly found evidence inconsistent with that explanation.
Disturbing Details in Autopsy and Arrest Report
The coroner ruled the child’s death a homicide caused by prolonged starvation. Medical examiners noted the toddler weighed just 19 pounds, far below healthy weight for a 3-year-old.
Investigators said Butler had been the child’s sole caregiver while the father worked offshore for weeks at a time. She allegedly refused food and basic care to the boy for several days leading up to his death.
- The child was found severely emaciated, with sunken eyes and visible ribs
- No food or formula was found in the house during the investigation
- Neighbors told detectives they hadn’t seen the child outside in weeks
“This was not a case of momentary neglect,” said Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul. “This was sustained, intentional abuse that led to the senseless death of an innocent child.”
Mother in Custody, Community in Shock
Antionette Butler was arrested at the scene and later charged with first-degree murder and child cruelty. She remains in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison without bond.
DCF (Department of Children & Family Services) is conducting a parallel investigation and has confirmed that at least one other child in the home has been removed for protective custody.
The child’s father, whose name has not been released, is cooperating with authorities and is said to be “devastated and blindsided” by the incident.
Public Response and Renewed Outcry
Child welfare advocates in Louisiana have expressed outrage and heartbreak over the case, pointing to an ongoing need for more proactive child safety checks—especially in households where one parent is away for extended periods.
“No child should ever be starving in silence. This tragedy must lead to change,” said Rachel Guidry, spokesperson for Louisiana ChildWatch.
Authorities are urging neighbors and communities to report even minor signs of neglect, emphasizing that one phone call could save a life.
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