Month-old baby that died on Staten Island was starved to death: medical examiner

A month-old babe who died connected Staten Island perished from “complications of terrible malnourishment,” and the mode of decease is homicide, said the Office of Chief Medical Examiner Wednesday.

Little Joseph Heben Jr. was brought to Staten Island University Hospital unconscious and unresponsive connected July 20 and subsequently died, constabulary said.

Neighbors successful Tottenville were shocked to perceive that the babe had been the unfortunate of homicide.

“A helpless child. An guiltless child, like, really? Come on. It’s terrible,” said 1 antheral who works adjacent the family’s location and did not stock his name.

The antheral said the mates had a young girl that was seemingly good cared for, but helium hadn’t known astir the newborn.

‘Whenever I saw her with her daughter… precise nice, and the kid was ever smiling,” helium said. “I don’t cognize the interior workings of their household oregon immoderate they’re doing successful their abode, but they look to beryllium mean people.”

Joseph is the second kid to dice from malnutrition successful the metropolis during the past fewer months.

Jahmeik Modlin, a 4-year-old Harlem boy, weighed conscionable 19 pounds erstwhile helium died Oct. 13 aft falling unconscious successful his family’s apartment.

Jahmeik Modlin and his mother, Nytavia Ragsdale.

Prosecutors said the flat wherever the lad lived with his rail-thin siblings, ages 5, 6 and 7, was stocked with nutrient — but each the cabinets were secured with zip ties and the refrigerator was turned toward a partition truthful its doors could not easy beryllium opened.

The children’s parents, Nytavia Ragsdale, 26, and Laron Modlin, 25, were indicted Wednesday connected a slew of charges, including murder, assault, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and endangering the payment of a child.

There person been nary arrests successful Joseph’s death.