The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has charged a Southfield woman with involuntary manslaughter in the death of her young son for reportedly disregarding medical advice after he suffered multiple seizures.
The criminal charge against Latoya Washington, 37, stems from the death of Curtis Washington, 4, this past January, alleging it resulted from gross negligence in her failure to provide necessary medical care.
Following her arraignment on June 23 in 46th District Court, Washington was released from custody on a $20,000 personal bond — which requires no cash or surety to be posted — and GPS monitoring.
According to the Southfield Police Department, first responders were called to a residence in the French Quarter Apartments on Jan. 25 on a report of a child not breathing and found Curtis unconscious and unresponsive. After life-saving measures were initiated on the scene, the child was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
A subsequent investigation determined that Washington had been hospitalized two days earlier after he experienced multiple seizures; medical professionals stabilized his condition and prescribed medication to help prevent further seizures, police said. After seeing an improvement in her child’s condition, Washington took him home against medical advice and, when the child experienced more seizures on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, she allegedly failed to give him the prescribed medication to prevent seizures and then allegedly didn’t provide prescribed rescue medication. That resulted in the child’s death, officials allege.
“This case is a heartbreaking reminder that children, especially those with medical conditions, depend entirely on the adults responsible for their care,” Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren stated in a news release. “Parents and caregivers must take medical concerns seriously, follow treatment plans, and seek immediate medical attention when a child’s condition worsens. A vulnerable child cannot advocate for themselves, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure their safety and well-being.”
As further stated in the news release: “The Southfield Police Department encourages parents, guardians, family members, neighbors, educators, healthcare professionals, and community members to remain vigilant when they become aware of children who may be at risk due to neglect, abuse, or unmet medical needs. Early intervention and reporting concerns can save lives. Anyone who suspects a child is being neglected, abused, or denied necessary medical care is encouraged to contact local law enforcement or the appropriate child protective services agency.”
Washington is due back in court on July 2 for a probable cause conference before Judge Cynthia Arvant.
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