Background: The Panama City, Fla., neighborhood where Hailey Smith lived with her babies (Google Maps). Inset: Hailey Smith (Bay County Sheriff”s Office).
In a troubling turn of events, a Florida mother is facing serious charges after her newborn twins were discovered in a state of severe malnutrition. Hailey Smith, a 21-year-old resident of Panama City, is currently held without bond at the Bay County Jail. She faces accusations of aggravated child neglect and child neglect, following her arrest on Wednesday.
The situation unfolded on September 30 when Smith sought medical help for one of her 1-month-old twins. According to information from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, when deputies reached Smith’s home, they found one of the infants barely responsive. An affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime details that Bay County Fire Rescue had to administer CPR before the infant was rushed to a hospital for further care.
At the scene, deputies reported a noticeable marijuana odor coming from inside the residence, as mentioned in the affidavit. This detail adds another layer of concern to the already distressing circumstances surrounding the welfare of the children.
Once admitted to the hospital, the infant required ventilator support and was reported to be functioning at a reduced capacity. Due to the severity of his condition, medical personnel decided to transfer him to a specialized facility in Gainesville for intensive treatment.
The affidavit provides a timeline of the infant’s health, revealing that he weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces at birth on August 18. Alarmingly, by the time of his hospital admission on October 2, his weight had only increased slightly to 5 pounds, 13 ounces. Initial concerns about a potential genetic disorder were dismissed after the baby began gaining weight during his hospital stay, pointing towards neglect as a likely cause of his condition.
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.
