Four-Year-Old Boy, Emaciated and Weighing Only 18lbs, Allegedly Nearly Starved to Death by Mother

A four-year-old boy was discovered in a dire state, weighing only 18 pounds, equivalent to the average weight of an eight-month-old infant, due to alleged starvation by his mother, Tammy Hannon, also known as Tammy Earl. The severe neglect led to brain damage and left the child too weak to perform basic movements, such as clearing his throat or getting up from a lying position.

Tammy Hannon, 24, faces serious legal repercussions, including up to 25 years in prison and fines amounting to $10,000, after being charged with aggravated child abuse. The situation came to light on February 15 when Hannon, finding her son unresponsive, sought help from her mother and rushed the boy to Three Rivers Hospital in Basin, Wyoming. Given the child’s critical condition, characterized by colorless lips and hands, unresponsiveness to pain, and fixed and dilated eyes, he was immediately transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit, Cowboy State Daily reported. 

Despite Hannon’s claims of a minor accident involving a toy, medical professionals at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the boy was later moved, strongly contested this narrative. The child’s condition indicated long-term neglect, with symptoms including acute kidney injury, pressure sores, hair and brain volume loss, and severe electrolyte imbalances, leading to the conclusion that he was starved.

The case, which has shocked the community, is being investigated as a severe instance of child abuse, with evidence pointing towards intentional starvation tantamount to torture. A subsequent police search of Hannon’s residence, shared with boyfriend Ty Myers, uncovered illicit substances, further complicating the case.

As Hannon awaits trial, the community and child protective services are rallying to ensure the safety and recovery of the affected child and his siblings, highlighting the critical importance of vigilance and intervention in suspected cases of child neglect and abuse.