An upstate New York mother locked her 2-year-old son in a filthy homemade cage and refused to take him to the doctor after he allegedly fell down the stairs, state police said Thursday.
Naesha Lumpkin, 24, who is facing child endangerment charges after officers made a shocking discovery inside her Buffalo home in February, suffered rib injuries and bruises to her face and body. More serious charges were avoided as the infant was found with bruises. police said in a press release.
“The child was in a makeshift playpen. The playpen had part of the crib tied down on three sides from the top, and the child was unable to stand up or get out of the playpen. There was no such thing,” the release states.
“The cage and the two-year-old child were covered in human feces,” police said. “There was feces on the walls. The child and his presence were drenched in urine and feces.”
Police officers who discovered the gruesome scene on February 8 took the boy to Oishei Children’s Hospital in the state’s north, where he was found with bruises and two broken ribs.
Police said the fractured ribs have partially healed, and it is likely that the fractures occurred between 10 days and two weeks ago.
Lumpkin told investigators that her son had fallen down the stairs.
Earlier this month, Erie County prosecutors and the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation opted not to file additional charges against Lumpkin, who is scheduled to appear in court next month.
She was referred to a court-ordered counseling program, according to court records.
Lumpkin’s attorney, Susan Marie Carraras, told the Post on Thursday that the case is pending in court and that she is “trying to reach a fair resolution” to the matter.
The case is also subject to family court proceedings, but these proceedings are closed to the public.
