In a deeply distressing case from Missouri, a 21-year-old mother, Alyssa Wehmeyer, is facing serious legal consequences after the tragic death of her one-year-old child. The toddler was left without food or water for an astonishing 43 hours, leading to severe malnutrition and dehydration. Authorities reported that when Wehmeyer finally checked on her baby, the child was unresponsive with blue lips—clear signs of a medical emergency that had been ignored for far too long. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and a deeper conversation about parental responsibility and child welfare.
According to court documents, Wehmeyer claimed she was suffering from a migraine and decided to take a nap—one that lasted nearly two days. She admitted that the last time she fed her baby was between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on February 26. Shockingly, she didn’t check on the child until 1 p.m. on February 28, when she found the toddler lifeless in their crib. During this 43-hour period, not only had the baby been left without food or water, but the child’s diaper hadn’t been changed for 19 hours, leading to painful and severe diaper rash.
The Cape Girardeau Police Department found the circumstances around the child’s death suspicious and requested an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. When authorities arrived at the scene, they documented the child’s condition—severe blisters caused by the untreated diaper rash and visible signs of extreme malnutrition. A subsequent autopsy confirmed the child died from dehydration, with minimal evidence of food in their stomach. These findings painted a horrifying picture of prolonged neglect and suffering.
In her statements to the police, Wehmeyer confessed she should have sought medical help for her child and acknowledged her failure to even provide basic care, like changing the baby’s diaper. She claimed she had taken three Excedrin pills for her migraine and laid down for a nap—one that had catastrophic consequences. Her explanations have been widely criticized as inadequate and callous, raising serious questions about her awareness and regard for her child’s well-being.
Wehmeyer is currently being held in the Scott County Jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond. She faces one count of child abuse or neglect resulting in death. As the case heads to court, it remains unclear whether Wehmeyer has legal representation. This tragic incident serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of parental responsibility and the devastating consequences when that duty is neglected.