A Centralia couple made their first court appearance Friday on charges alleging that they severely neglected a child in their care for a period of approximately nine years, leading to serious medical issues and delayed physical and mental development.
Mary G. Foxworth, 42, and Anthony S. Foxworth Sr, 44, made their first appearances out of custody in Lewis County Superior Court Friday on suspicion of first-degree criminal mistreatment, domestic violence.
It is alleged that between January 2007 and January 2016, the Foxworths recklessly caused “great bodily harm” to a child in their care by “withholding any of the basic necessities of life,” according to charging documents.
Both were granted $10,000 unsecured bail, allowing them to remain out of police custody. They were appointed attorneys Friday.
They were also instructed to comply with orders from their ongoing Lewis County Child Dependency Court hearings.
The Chronicle is not identifying the relationship between the Foxworths and the child to protect the identity of the victim, who is a minor.
According to court documents, Mary and Anthony Foxworth showed up at Northwest Pediatrics in Centralia with the child in question near closing time and reported that the boy had not eaten or had anything to drink for about three weeks and had abdominal pain.
According to medical staff quoted in court documents, the boy, age 16, was extremely thin and small and was “whiter than a piece of paper.” He grunted rather than talked.
The first medical assistant who saw the boy thought him to be 8 to 10 years old judging by his size and said she had “never seen anyone in his condition before or since,” according to court documents.
Anthony Foxworth reportedly told staff at the office that he believed his wife was exaggerating and that the boy was fine.
A doctor then examined the boy, and estimated him to be 11 or 12.
“I remember thinking this is the most pale kid I have ever seen in my life,” the doctor is quoted as saying in court documents. “I knew he was acutely ill and I was concerned for a possible decompensation.”
The child was sent to Providence Centralia Hospital and later to Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital.
Upon admission at Mary Bridge, the boy had a recorded weight of 54 pounds, was missing patches of hair, could not stand on his own and could not open his mouth far enough for a doctor to check his throat.
“Wow. Where do I start? This is a very sad story for this very precious child,” a Mary Bridge doctor is quoted as saying in court documents.
The doctor diagnosed the boy as suffering from severe malnutrition, severe constipation, an intestinal blockage, severe mycrocytic anemia and neglect. The boy was in pull-up diapers. A doctor’s reports indicated a diagnosis of psychosocial dwarfism, a syndrome linked to neglect cases, according to court documents.
The boy’s skeletal age was determined to be 13. The doctor stated that the case was at best one of neglect, but possibly also abuse.
Investigators learned the boy hadn’t been seen by a doctor since 2007. He had not gone to school since 2011.
A dentist found 24 teeth in need of dental work, including cavities, two in need of a root canal, two in need of crowns and at least one that had to be extracted.
Two other children in the Foxworths’ care were reportedly in good health and were enrolled in school.
Detectives contacted the Foxworths, who reported that the family ate healthy meals, had good hygiene and went to the dentist once a year. According to court documents, statements from the other children and evidence contradicted those statements.
Anthony Foxworth reportedly told police the boy was “going through a growth spurt,” and maintained he had done nothing wrong.
Mary Foxworth reportedly told police she thought the boy was starving himself because he was depressed.
The teen was put in foster care. Between that date and when charges were filed, on Dec. 12, the boy reportedly gained 3.25 inches and 93 pounds. His foster family have taught him to do several things for the first time, according to court documents, such as make a sandwich, go to a movie theater and go bowling and mini golfing.
