Alabama mother charged with murder after disabled daughter found dead in neglectful conditions
Leslie Denise Wilson, 35, of Gadsden, Alabama, was arrested on murder charges for the death of her 12-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy, whose body was discovered severely malnourished and infested with maggots.
Authorities in Gadsden, Alabama, have filed murder charges against Leslie Denise Wilson, 35, after her 12-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy was found dead in a state of severe neglect. Investigators initially responded to a claim of a natural death, but discovered the child was severely underweight, dehydrated, and had live maggots in her diaper, indicating extreme neglect. Major Crimes Division Detective Alec Burgess reported that Wilson had directed her younger siblings to look after the girl despite a lack of food in the household.
The autopsy revealed the cause of death as sepsis, and the death was ruled a homicide. A criminal complaint states Wilson repeatedly tortured, beat, and otherwise mistreated the child from May 1 to June 17, leading to her fatal injuries.
Why it matters
The case highlights severe child neglect and raises concerns about protective services for vulnerable children.
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