Stepdad of boy found starving in family home tells police 'he's not my responsibility'
The stepfather of a five-year-old boy who was found so badly malnourished that he could not stand up or speak, reportedly told authorities: "He is not my responsibility".
Brian Hall, 29, was arrested for allegedly failing to report neglect of the boy, who was discovered dehydrated and eating cereal of a filthy carpet at his family's home in Daytona Beach, Florida. He weighed just 11kg,
Naomie Hall, the boy's 24-year-old mother, was also detained.
Police were called to investigate allegations of child neglect by officials from the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
After they arrived at the home on 29 June, officers found the boy was still using nappies, suffering from dry skin and so malnourished his weight did not register on a growth chart.
The child was taken to hospital, where he was placed in intensive care.
Daytona Beach Police Department arrested his mother on suspicion of child neglect causing great bodily harm.
Mr Hall arrived home soon after investigators arrived, telling authorities: "He is not my responsibility. I'm not his father. I come from a rich and white family."
While being questioned by police he pointed to his own two children, who also lived at the home, and said: "Those two are taken care of."
Police informed him that he was legally obliged to report child neglect and arrested him.
The boy has been given physical and speech therapy in hospital, while his siblings have been taken into care by authorities.
