EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE/Gray News) – Christin Donat, a 26-year-old mother from Indiana, has been arrested after her 2-month-old son was found severely malnourished and nearly starved to death.
Donat is facing two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, according to reports from WFIE. Deputies say the baby was taken to the hospital by Donat’s concerned roommate because she was too tired to attend to the baby after a shift at her part-time job. Donat arrived at the hospital hours later.
At the hospital, it was reported that the baby had lost weight since birth and was emaciated, suffering from starvation, dehydration, and malnutrition. His condition was so severe that hospital staff compared him to a Holocaust victim. Authorities said that without immediate intervention, the baby would have died.
Donat explained that she fed the baby one ounce of formula about six times a day, but she claimed he would often spit it up. She admitted to canceling a doctor’s appointment to check on his progress before the roommate brought him to the hospital. Donat also acknowledged she should have handled the situation differently.
Since being placed with a foster family, the baby has shown signs of rapid recovery, gaining three pounds in just a few weeks. He was initially admitted weighing only six pounds and six ounces.
Donat is being held on a $25,000 bond.