Adoptive parents charged in death of son, 4, who was 'skin and bones' when police found him at the family's home
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A North Texas husband and wife have been charged with felony injury to a child after their 4-year-old adopted son was found dead at their home.
Police in Cleburne, Texas arrested David, 46, and Angel Cook, 35, on Monday after an autopsy report indicated Buddy Cook's death was a homicide. The body was discovered March 22.
Earlier Child Protective Services affidavits said Buddy apparently died of dehydration and malnutrition and the parents didn't seek medical attention.
Victim: Buddy Cook died from dehydration and malnutrition and his adoptive parents have been charged in connection to his death
Police say the four-year-old boy was 'skin and bones' when they were called to his home, after it was claimed his adoptive parents failed to seek medical attention.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s autopsy report ruled 4-year-old Buddy Cook’s death a homicide by starvation.
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ShareSeven children aged from one to 12 years old were removed from the Cook family home in Cleburne, Texas and placed in foster care, but officials believe Buddy's death may have been as a result of a pre-existing medical condition.
Bond has been set at $75,000 for each parent. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday did not immediately provide information on whether the couple remained in custody.
An attorney for the Cooks didn't immediately respond to messages.
Scene: Seven children aged from one-to-12-years-old were removed from the Cook family home and placed in foster care
Officials said there had been no history of Child Protective Services issues at the house or with his adoptive parents, Angel and David Cook.
The adoptive parents told investigators that the boy was the product of an incestuous relationship and was emotionally disturbed after he had been sexually abused by his mother and other men, the Fort Worth Star Telegram reported.
Buddy came to live with the Cooks about nine months ago from Oklahoma.
He had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, reactive attachment disorder and a sexually transmitted disease.
He banged his head on things, sat in the corner rocking back and forth, and picked at the walls, or his own skin, the parents said.
The other children at the home had varying accounts of what life was like in their foster home.
Some said they were never denied food as punishment, while another said he and Buddy were sent to bed without dinner and were spanked with a belt if they left their room without permission.
David Cook told investigators that Buddy had started refusing to eat or drink but would eat his own feces. His parents were feeding him Ensure because he was losing weight.
A family friend also said that Angel Cook would have to tape gloves onto the child to prevent him from hurting himself.
A medical examiner reported that Buddy had food and water in his stomach and that his bowel was full, 'all indicating intake of food and water'.
He also found that he had no fractures or external injuries indicative of abuse, and that the injuries to his face were consistent with a fall.
Angel Cook said that the night before Buddy died he threw up after his dinner but had no fever. She said she intended to take him to the doctor on the day he died.
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