Muriel Schwenck
Beloved Curmudgeon
LINK
August 15, 2019
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Megan Burrow, 31, and Shawn Blaney, 35, both of Fredericktown, were charged with three counts of abuse or neglect of a child and two counts of animal abuse.
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According to court documents, authorities were alerted on Wednesday, Aug. 7 by Missouri Children’s Division in reference to a report of child abuse and neglect.
Authorities say three children, two dogs, two adult cats and nine kittens lived with Burrow and Blaney in a home on Highway 72 West. The children were ages eight, five and three.
Court documents state the eight-year-child was dependent on a trach and feeding tube.
All three children were placed into protective custody by court order on Wednesday, July 31.
On Thursday, Aug. 8, authorities learned the eight-year-old child had previously been taken to the hospital for failure to thrive and alleged child neglect after Burrow allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Burrow said, “This is the last weekend she [child] would be alive.”
The hospital reported the eight year old arrived with severe cradle cap and was “disheveled.” They also reported that leftover food was around the feeding tube insertion site, as well as a dirty dressing over the trach insertion.
Court documents state the child also had the beginnings of pressure ulcers on the face, ear and tailbone; and her nails were significantly overgrown. She was reportedly extremely malnourished.
The child was later taken to a St. Louis hospital.
According to court documents, on Aug. 1, the child tested positive for methamphetamine.
Court documents state that at a doctor’s office on July 11, the child weighed 50 pounds. By the time the child was admitted to the St. Louis hospital on Aug. 1, the child weighed 30 pounds, 4 ounces.
Investigators say they confirmed on Aug. 12 that funeral arrangements were bought for the child on July 31 after statements were allegedly made that the child would pass away by Aug. 2.
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According to investigators, Megan Burrow tried to start end-of-life care and/or hospice for the child against the recommendations from medical professionals who said it wasn’t necessary.
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This appears to be a family sunk in defeat and despair caused by drugs, crime, stress. They gave up on everything except drugs.
From 2013:
Home
dailyjournalonline.com
Reading this article, I think mom now wishes she'd taken the morphine option for the baby.
“The doctors told her mom and dad they had three choices. They could send her home with morphine to help her live out her last days without pain, she could go home with a bi-pap machine, or they could have a tracheotomy and g-tube for her,” recalled Miller.
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