A mother devoid of compassion, whose neglected son passed away in excruciating pain, has received a 32-year prison term after pleading no contest to charges of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse.
Zakye Smith-Nelson, aged 14, died after being discovered unresponsive at his residence on January 1, 2024, weighing less than a typical seven-year-old child. At the time of his tragic demise, the severely malnourished teenager weighed a mere 33 pounds, significantly below the average weight range of 110 to 120 pounds for a boy his age.
In an attempt to justify his alarming state, Zakye’s mother, Talia Nelson, audaciously alleged that her son suffered from a rare bone disorder, bulimia, and lactose intolerance. Nevertheless, during questioning by authorities, the 45-year-old could not provide the names of doctors who had diagnosed Zakye with these conditions.
Furthermore, the emaciated boy exhibited facial bruising and scarring across his body, consistent with being struck by a long, flexible object, as determined by the medical examiner. Due to the presence of bedsores, indicating immobility, Zakye would have been incapable of causing these painful marks himself.
According to The Daily Express US, a search of the home in Daytona Beach, Florida, revealed a bedroom devoid of furniture, filled with soiled clothes emitting a strong odor of “stale urine.” Conversely, the master bedroom contained unopened laptops intended for homeschooling.
Reportedly, when officers from the Daytona Beach Police Department responded to a call regarding an unconscious child in January, Nelson informed them that her son collapsed while she was preparing dinner for him.
During a police interview, Nelson stated that she had provided Zakye with protein shakes to aid in weight gain, claiming he would induce vomiting afterward. She admitted to neglecting to seek medical attention for the boy, who had lost the ability to walk independently for several weeks.
Nelson contended that Zakye would move by “scooting on his butt,” denying any neglect. Medical records revealed that the teenager had not received medical care since the age of 10, at which time he was documented as healthy and well-developed.
An autopsy disclosed that Zakye had deteriorated to the extent of bone density loss before his passing. State Attorney R. J. Larizza described Nelson as “cruel” and “heartless,” expressing profound sadness at the condition of the teenage victim.
“It is unfathomable for a mother to neglect and mistreat her own child as revealed in this case. How could she witness her son endure such suffering until he weighed less than a typical seven-year-old? Heartless and cruel are apt descriptions,” Larizza said. “May he rest in peace, and may she be tormented eternally by her brutal actions.”