A mother without compassion, whose neglected son tragically passed away in distress, has now received a 32-year prison sentence after admitting to charges of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse.
Zakye Smith-Nelson, only 14 years old, was discovered unresponsive at his residence on January 1, 2024, weighing less than a typical seven-year-old child. The teenager, severely malnourished, weighed a mere 33 pounds at the time of his untimely death, significantly below the expected weight range for his age.
Attempting to justify his deteriorating state, Zakye’s mother, Talia Nelson, falsely claimed that her son had rare medical conditions such as a bone disorder, bulimia, and lactose intolerance. However, when pressed by authorities, the 45-year-old could not provide the names of any doctors who had diagnosed Zakye with these alleged illnesses.
Furthermore, it was observed that the emaciated boy exhibited facial bruising and scarring on his body, consistent with being struck by a flexible object. Due to his severe bedsores, Zakye lacked mobility and could not have inflicted these injuries upon himself.
During a search of their Daytona Beach, Florida home, officials found one bedroom filled with soiled clothes emitting a foul odor of stale urine, while the master bedroom contained unopened laptops intended for homeschooling.
According to a police report, Nelson informed responders that Zakye collapsed while she was preparing dinner for him. She claimed to have given him protein shakes to help him gain weight but neglected to seek medical help for him, despite his inability to walk unassisted for weeks.
Nelson described how Zakye would move by scooting on his butt but denied neglecting him. Medical records revealed that Zakye had not received medical attention since he was 10 years old, when he was described as healthy.
A subsequent autopsy disclosed that Zakye had suffered severe malnourishment, leading to bone density loss before his passing. State Attorney R. J Larizza condemned Nelson’s actions as cruel and heartless, expressing sorrow at the condition of the young victim and condemning the mother’s neglect and abuse.
The tragic case left officials and the community deeply disturbed by the extent of negligence and cruelty towards a vulnerable child.