WACO, TX — The Waco Police Department arrested a grandmother after they found a child in her care that looked malnourished.
Police said that on Tuesday evening, officers went to Live Oak Ave. for a welfare check call involving children. On of the children looked very sickly and thin.
The 43-year-old grandmother, Noemi Costancio, is the legal guardian of a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old.
Officers called an ambulance for the 2-year-old and said her arms were as thin as bone and had no muscle mass.
Police called CPS after observing the home smelled like urine and contained a lot of animals. The home was also roach-infested.
The 2-year-old weighed 13.1 pounds with clothes. Her 6-month-old sister weighed more than her at 16 pounds.
At the hospital, doctor said she has failure to thrive. They believe it took about 6 months for her to reach that level of neglect.
After the investigation was completed, the child’s legal guardian Noemi Constancio, was arrested for endangering the welfare of child as she failed to provide the necessary medical care.
Neighbors told 25 News they were shocked and saying they didn't know children were inside the residence.
"Its very heartbreaking for a child, to know that there were children in that situation" said one neighbor.
