Matthew McDermott
The father of the 4-year-old Harlem boy who died freezing and malnourished was charged Tuesday – a day after the youngster’s mother was also arrested in the disturbing case, cops said.
Laron Modlin, 25, is facing charges of criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child in connection to the death of his son Jahmeik Modlin, police said.
The boy’s mother, Nytavia Ragsdale, was hit with the same charges by authorities on Monday after she called for help Sunday evening, claiming she found her son unresponsive in their apartment just off Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., police and law enforcement sources told The Post.
The child was taken to Harlem Hospital, where medical staff determined he was malnourished and suffering from hypothermia, sources previously said.
While investigators initially believed he had burn marks, it was determined the child suffered from eczema, ABC 7 reported.
He was pronounced dead early Monday morning.
Little Jameik’s three other siblings were checked out at the hospital and placed in the custody of children services, police said.
Neighbors in the family’s apartment building were left sickened by Jahmeik’s death.
“It’s a tragedy,” said one resident who only gave her first name, Shannon. “That child missed out on so much life because of neglect.”
“I don’t know her but people are talking,” she also said of the mother. “Nobody saw her with those kids. They didn’t know she even had kids. Just a shame.”
A memorial was set up for Jahmeik outside the building that included a big teddy bear, other stuffed animals and candles.
Another resident, 46, called the situation “unfathomable.”
“I saw her sometimes but we never spoke,” the woman said of Ragsdale before the father was also charged. “She didn’t say good morning or good night like normal neighbors would.”