AVA, Mo. — A distressing case of child endangerment has emerged from Ava, Missouri, where three residents face serious charges after local authorities discovered an eight-week-old infant allegedly subjected to neglect and living in a potentially hazardous environment. The individuals, identified as 44-year-old Jammie White, 21-year-old Ashlee Dean, and 25-year-old Nicholas Womble, were arrested following a coordinated investigation led by Douglas County authorities.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported that the arrests occurred after a hotline tip prompted a visit to a local residence by law enforcement and the Children’s Division. Upon arrival, officers discovered 80 mature marijuana plants but found the residence unoccupied. A subsequent search revealed the plants hastily destroyed, an indication of attempted concealment.
Sheriff Chris Degase, together with his team, revisited the site nearly an hour later. It was during this visit that White opened the door and informed authorities that Dean and Womble had fled into the woods with the child following the initial law enforcement visit. Shortly afterward, responding to White’s shouting, Dean and Womble re-emerged from the woods with the infant in tow.
Medical assessment of the infant revealed alarming signs of malnutrition and inadequate care. An ambulance swiftly transported the child to a nearby hospital where it was found that the baby had not received prescribed medication and was being fed a diet wholly unsuitable for an infant, including goat milk replacer, Vienna sausages, and soda. The child has since been placed under state custody and is receiving ongoing medical care.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, each of the three suspects now faces significant legal repercussions. The indictments handed down include charges of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse, reflecting the severity of the allegations. The court has set a cash-only bond at $150,000 for White and $15,000 each for Dean and Womble, underscoring the serious nature of these charges.
The case shines a spotlight on the critical nature of vigilance and community awareness in safeguarding vulnerable children. Such incidents starkly highlight the challenges and imperative need for effective intervention in cases of alleged child endangerment. Meanwhile, local authorities and child welfare advocates continue to monitor and address the ongoing needs of the affected infant, hoping for a recovery and a safer future.