Jahmeik Modlin, a four-year-old boy, died after he was reportedly starved to death by his parents. A sad vigil was held in Harlem in his honor.
Because it happened in an apartment building, there were people nearby who might have stepped in and helped. But no one saw how much pain Jahmeik was in until it was too late.
Nytavia Ragsdale, Jahmeik’s mother, and Laron Modlin, his father, were both arrested earlier this week.
Lawyers for the couple say they had a fridge full of food, but they turned it toward a wall so Jahmeik and his three brothers couldn’t get to it. It’s hard to imagine the abuse and disregard Jahmeik had to go through.
After years of not getting any care, Jahmeik’s mother finally called 911 on Sunday night when he passed out. It was too late by the time the police and firefighters got there.
Jahmeik’s body just gave out because it had been starving for so long. The young boy had been hurting in silence, away from everyone else. Now, his terrible life was over.
On Friday, people from the neighborhood gathered in front of the family’s house to remember Jahmeik’s short life. As a sign of grief and remembering, candles were lit and balloons were let go into the sky.
On the other hand, no amount of candles or balloons could calm the people who were there down from their overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
People in the community had a hard time accepting the harsh truth of the situation. They couldn’t understand how something so terrible could have happened so close to home and no one had noticed.
Both parents are now being charged with killing and putting a child in danger.
The community is already feeling very sad and alone because of the child who seemed to have been forgotten by everyone, even the people who were meant to love and care for him the most. These charges make their feelings even worse.
People in Harlem are deeply thinking about how a young boy could be so alone and ignored in such a busy city since Jahmeik’s death.
It hurts to be reminded of how important it is to take care of the weakest people.