A mother and father have been charged following the death of their one-year-old son, who died from severe malnutrition. A second child was also discovered by Merseyside Police officers to be neglected and underdeveloped.
Police were alerted when Maero Johnson was rushed to a hospital. Despite medical intervention, the infant passed away in the early hours of August 23, 2023. A post-mortem examination conducted by the Home Office determined the cause of death to be ketotic hypoglycaemia and severe malnutrition. This condition is typically a result of prolonged periods without food or can be linked to a viral illness, and it most commonly affects young children.
Adam Johnson, 26, and Kylie Smith, 25, both residents of St Helens, have been formally charged. Their charges include causing or allowing the death of a child, child neglect, and possession of a Class B drug, specifically cannabis.
Johnson and Smith are scheduled to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on August 13.