According to the arrest report, 23-year-old Tania Nicole McGowan is being charged with child neglect and child abuse after the infant died Dec. 11.
The report says that at 6:17 p.m., Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department responded to a home in reference to an unresponsive infant and quickly transferred the baby boy to UF Health, where he was pronounced deceased.
Medical staff were concerned due to the infant’s condition and called the police to investigate. The medical examiner conducted an autopsy, but results are still pending. However, the medical examiner did mention that the child was extremely malnourished and had no evidence of any food in his stomach or intestines.
When police arrived at the hospital, they learned that the suspect Tania McGowan, who called JFRD, had left the hospital. Medical personnel also told police that the baby was in an “emaciated” state and weighed only seven pounds at death.
Another officer was sent to the home on Duval Road and got written consent from McGowan to enter the home. Upon entering, the officer found the house to be cluttered with barely any furniture. A pack-and-play was found in the basement, and there were only two bottle of baby formula in the house.
When the officer questioned McGowan, she claimed she placed the baby to sleep at 8 p.m. on Dec. 10 and didn’t check on him until midnight. She said the baby appeared to be asleep, so she went to bed. When she got up the next morning, she said the baby was unresponsive and cold to the touch.
The officer also spoke with apartment management and learned of an abuse incident involving the victim and another child in the clubhouse. McGowan was caught on surveillance slamming the victim against furniture, putting blankets over the head and continuously slapping the victim’s head.
Police interviewed McGowan again and learned that the child was her son, but he used to live with his father. She gained custody of him when his father moved to Texas in October. During the time the victim was alive, he was never seen by a doctor. McGowan admitted she noticed the child was slimming down, but she thought he was growing in length.
McGowan’s phone was inspected and images showed the progression of the child from a healthy size to malnourished.
The victim at 4 months old appeared to be EXTREMELY malnourished to the point his stomach was caved in & his rib cage protruded. He was dehydrated, his face was thin, & his cheeks had sunken in. He had no food in his stomach, & he weighed only 7lbs. After going to the apartment complex where the infant & his mother, Tania McGowan lived authorities spoke with management who released a shocking video that happened days prior to the child's death.
That video revealed that on December 6, 2022 inside the facilities clubhouse the victims Mother laid the 4month old down on the couch with a blanket & walks way. Moments later she comes back, picks him up & forcefully slams him on the couch. She then grabs the baby by his neck & face & twists his head to the side. She covered his head w/his baby blanket then strikes him several more times in the back of his head before casually walking away. She returns this time placing a large pillow over her sons head before walking away again. Moments later she gathers her things & the baby leave the clubhouse non chalant as ever.
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