The tragic death of a malnourished 4-year-old boy in Harlem has shocked the community, revealing the horrific conditions in which he lived with his neglectful parents. The boy, Jahmeik Modlin, weighed only 19 pounds at the time of his death, a result of starvation and neglect by his parents.
During a court appearance, it was revealed that the boy’s father, Laron Modlin, and mother, Nytavia Ragsdale, kept food locked away in cabinets with child safety locks, making it inaccessible to the children. The refrigerator in the apartment was turned to the wall, further limiting access to food for the children.
Medical examiners found that a back bedroom in the apartment was covered in human feces, with smear marks on the walls made by children. Jahmeik had feces matted in his hair, indicating the unsanitary conditions in which he lived.
Additional details from the medical examiner showed signs of malnutrition in Jahmeik, including thinning hair and delayed growth. Despite being seen by a doctor in 2022 weighing 23 pounds, Jahmeik had lost weight over the years, showing the prolonged deprivation he endured.
Administration of Children’s Services had visited the family’s home twice in the past four years, once for deplorable living conditions that were temporarily cleaned up and another time due to one of Jahmeik’s siblings being born with marijuana in their system.
The other three children in the family, now under the care of ACS, have not gained weight and are on a liquid diet due to their malnourished state. Modlin, the father, claimed he did not notice his son’s condition as he was often preoccupied with video games and his phone.
Modlin was remanded to jail after his court appearance, while Ragsdale, his wife, had her bail set at $100,000 cash during her arraignment on similar charges. The tragic death of Jahmeik Modlin has shed light on the dire circumstances in which he and his siblings lived, prompting a closer look at child neglect and abuse in the community.
