Background: The Panama City, Fla., neighborhood where Hailey Smith lived with her babies (Google Maps). Inset: Hailey Smith (Bay County Sheriff”s Office).
A Florida woman who called for help for her infant is now charged with child neglect after both her twins were found to be “severely malnourished.”
Hailey Smith, 21, is being held without bond at the Bay County Jail on one charge of aggravated child neglect and one count of child neglect after she was arrested on Wednesday. According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Smith called for medical assistance on Sept. 30 for one of her 1-month-old twin boys. When deputies arrived at her home in Panama City, the baby was “barely responsive,” according to an affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime. After Bay County Fire Rescue performed CPR on the little boy, he was taken to a hospital.
Deputies allegedly noticed that the house smelled like marijuana.
“While at the residence, the responding deputies noted the odor of marijuana emanating from within the residence,” the affidavit said.
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Deputies wrote in the affidavit that the baby was put on a ventilator at the hospital and was “operating at a diminished capacity.” Medical staff made the decision to transport the baby to another hospital in Gainesville for intensive care.
According to the affidavit, the baby weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces when he was born on Aug. 18. When he was weighed again at the hospital on Oct. 2, he weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces. The possibility was raised that the baby could have a genetic disorder, but medical staff ruled that out since the baby gained weight during his hospital stay.
A medical examination revealed that the baby was suffering from medical neglect and severe malnourishment. In a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office said that investigators later found out the baby had a twin brother who was also “severely malnourished.” The other baby was also brought to the hospital in Gainesville. According to the affidavit, the first twin seen by first responders “nearly” died as a result of his condition.
Deputies said that the babies have since been released from the hospital and are in the care of family members.
Smith is being held without bond at Bay County Jail. Her next court date is scheduled for Nov. 13.
