In a heart-wrenching case out of Louisiana, authorities have accused a couple of starving their 5-year-old son, reducing him to a mere 19 pounds while living in squalid conditions. This tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the dire consequences of child neglect.

Marley Perilloux, 33, and Raynisa Young, 27, now face a slew of serious charges, including negligent homicide and second-degree cruelty to juveniles. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office has also charged them with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and illegal carrying of weapons. As the investigation unfolds, officials warn that additional or upgraded charges could follow.

The tragic events began on New Year’s Day around 9 p.m. when the parents placed their son in a vehicle and made a distress call to 911. Law enforcement officers met the father and son at a gas station in Geismar, where they encountered the young boy, Marley Perilloux, who was unresponsive.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies sprang into action, performing CPR while awaiting further medical assistance. Despite their efforts, the boy was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The loss of such a young life has cast a pall over the community, raising questions about how this situation went unnoticed for so long.

Detectives noted the child had visible injuries and showed signs of severe malnourishment, sparking further concerns about neglect. Their investigation led them to the family’s residence, where they discovered three other children living amid the deplorable conditions. As the community grapples with this tragedy, the case serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of safeguarding the welfare of children.

The child had “apparent injuries” and detectives had “additional concerns of child neglect, including severe malnourishment,” according to sheriff’s deputies. The investigation led authorities to the family’s home, where three other children of unidentified ages lived.

“Detectives reported the inside of the home was in poor condition and barely livable due to Perilloux and Young’s negligence,” the sheriff’s office said. Trash was strewn throughout the home and dirty mattresses lay on the floor. “Detectives interviewed Perilloux and Young and learned that both parents had failed to ensure proper hygiene, feeding, and medical care of the juvenile, who weighed approximately 19 pounds at the time of death.”

Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Col. Donald Capelo expressed how “this is probably the worst case of child neglect I’ve seen in my 34 years of law enforcement.”

“To put it in perspective, when the coroners come out, there are body bags for adults, and there are body bags for infants,” he added, per WAFB. “And this child, 5 years old, fit in an infant body bag.”

Neighbors reportedly said they were shocked by the harrowing news. One said the couple should have asked for help.

“People are treating their pets almost better than that,” Calvin Lewis told the TV station.

The parents were both arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. They are being detained with no bond.

The three other children living at the home were removed by the state, the TV station added.