A Florida child abuse case is drawing attention after authorities alleged that a Miami-Dade mother failed to provide her teenage son with critical liver medication for months — a lapse investigators say led to organ failure and an emergency transplant.
According to the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office, 36-year-old Edmonde Devalon has been charged with child abuse causing great bodily harm. Investigators allege she did not administer her 15-year-old son’s prescribed medication for an unspecified liver disease for at least six months.
Medical consequences were severe. A probable cause arrest affidavit states the teenager’s liver ultimately failed, requiring immediate transplant surgery. Authorities have not disclosed the date he became critically ill or when the transplant occurred. His current medical condition has also not been released.
Investigators documented statements allegedly made by Devalon after being advised of her rights.
“Post Miranda, the defendant stated that she had not given the victim his medication since the middle of last year due to being overwhelmed with the number of children she has,” cops wrote. “The defendant further stated that she was aware that the victim’s medication was necessary and without it being provided it would be life-threatening.”
The alleged abuse occurred at the family’s residence on Northeast 195th Street in Miami-Dade County, according to law enforcement records.
Devalon was taken into custody Tuesday and booked into the Miami-Dade Jail. Court records show she remained behind bars Wednesday afternoon on a $5,000 bond. If released, she must have only supervised contact with the teen. A future court date has not yet been scheduled.
