A district judge ruled Monday there was enough evidence to send a case in which a Scranton woman is accused of failing to properly care for her disabled 17-year-old son to Lackawanna County Court.
Zakia Patterson, 50, of 856 N. Sumner Ave., was arrested in March on felony charges of aggravated assault, endangering a child and unlawful restraint.
On Jan. 26, police responded to a ChildLine report, originating from a nurse at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, regarding a disabled child. The juvenile had been transported to the hospital via ambulance on Jan. 13, weighing only 51 pounds and diagnosed with severe malnutrition, failure to thrive and multiple advanced bedsores, including a 6-centimeter wound — more than 2¼ inches — where the bone was visible, according to a criminal complaint.
Detectives responding to Geisinger noted he was so thin and frail they could see every one of his ribs. His knees were contracted up to his chest in a fetal position, and he was unable to straighten them. His arms were also contracted across his chest.
Patterson allegedly missed multiple medical and dental appointments for her son during the last year, including a fitting for a wheelchair.
Medical personnel informed Patterson her son was eligible for skilled nursing care services at his residence, but Patterson never followed through, according to the complaint.
In 2023, after being placed in the Rutledge Skilled Nursing facility in Brooklyn, New York, the boy thrived and staff there noted that, although nonverbal, he was happy and well liked.
During the stay at the hospital, Patterson did not visit in spite of being offered free Uber rides and other options for visiting.
In November 2024, Patterson, who was moving back to Scranton, was awarded back custody of her son on a trial basis.
Lackawanna County officials were unaware of the placement and history of neglect, according to the complaint. Patterson is free on $50,000 unsecured bail. A trial date has not been set.