Louisiana – In a deeply disturbing case in Louisiana, a 5‑year‑old boy has died after being starved and neglected by his own parents, who are now facing serious criminal charges. The 33-year-old father, identified as M. Perilloux, and 27-year-old mother, identified as R. Young, were arrested and booked in jail without bond after authorities said they failed to provide food, medical care, and basic hygiene for their son, who was found weighing just 19 pounds at the time of his death.
The couple has been charged with negligent homicide, second‑degree cruelty to juveniles, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and illegal carrying of weapons, the sheriff’s office announced. Officials also said additional or upgraded charges are possible as the investigation continues.
The case came to light on New Year’s Day at about 9 p.m., when Perilloux and Young placed their son inside a vehicle and called 911 for help. Deputies met the father and the unresponsive child at a gas station. Once at the scene, deputies began performing CPR while awaiting emergency services. The young boy was rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical staff worked on him for about 40 to 45 minutes, but he ultimately did not survive.
Deputies noted the child had what they described as “apparent injuries” and “additional concerns of child neglect, including severe malnourishment.” Detectives followed the trail back to the family’s home, where they found the living conditions were shocking. According to investigators, the inside of the residence was in terrible condition — garbage was strewn throughout, and dirty mattresses lay on the floor. The state of the home was so poor that deputies described it as “barely livable.” Detectives interviewed both Perilloux and Young and learned that the parents had failed to ensure proper feeding, hygiene, and medical care for their son. At the time of his death, the child weighed only 19 pounds, a weight more typical of a much younger infant than a 5‑year‑old.
Sheriff’s Col. D. Capelo, who has decades of experience in law enforcement, described the case in stark and heartbreaking terms. “This is probably the worst case of child neglect I’ve seen in my 34 years of law enforcement,” Capelo said. To illustrate the severity, he added: “To put it in perspective, when the coroners come out, there are body bags for adults, and there are body bags for infants. And this child, 5 years old, fit in an infant body bag.”
The couple’s other three children, whose ages were not released by authorities, were living in the same home. After the parents’ arrest, those children were removed by the state for their safety, according to local news reports. Neighbors in the community were stunned by the news, expressing disbelief that such severe neglect could happen right in front of them. Authorities say their investigation is ongoing and that they will look into whether any other adults knew about the child’s condition. If others were aware and failed to act, they could potentially face charges as well. An autopsy was pending at the time, and investigators said it was unclear when the child last ate before he was brought to the hospital.
Col. Capelo used the tragic case as a warning to other parents facing hardship: “They need to seek help, whether it be through a family member, whether it be through DCFS, a division of the state, but you have to seek help. You have to do whatever you can and whatever means you have to just take care of your children,” he said. For one young boy, that help came far too late. His death, and the conditions in which he lived and died, have sparked outrage and sorrow across the community — and now a criminal case that could lead to serious consequences for his parents.
