A Harlem father was charged Tuesday in the death of his four-year-old son, a day after the boy’s mother was arrested in connection with the same case, according to police reports. Laron Modlin, 25, faces charges of criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child following the death of his son, Jahmeik Modlin. The charges come after the boy’s mother, Nytavia Ragsdale, was similarly charged on Monday.
The case began when Ragsdale called authorities on Sunday evening, reporting that her son was unresponsive in their apartment located near Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. Emergency responders transported Jahmeik to Harlem Hospital, where medical staff determined that he was malnourished and suffering from hypothermia. Initially, there were concerns about possible burn marks on the child’s body, but it was later confirmed that he had eczema, as reported by ABC 7. Despite medical intervention, the child was pronounced dead early Monday morning.
Modlin was taken into custody late Tuesday, and during his transfer from the 32nd Precinct, he briefly addressed the situation, denying that his son had any burn marks. “There was never no burn marks,” Modlin said before being placed into an ambulance. He did not respond to further questions from the media.
Jahmeik had three other siblings, all of whom were evaluated at the hospital and are now in the custody of child protective services, according to the police.
Neighbors at the family’s apartment building reacted with sadness and disbelief. One resident, who gave her name as Shannon, remarked to The New York Post: “It’s a tragedy. That child missed out on so much life because of neglect.” Others mentioned that the family was not well-known in the building, with some noting that they were unaware Ragsdale had children.
A memorial for Jahmeik has been set up outside the apartment, where neighbors and passersby have left stuffed animals and candles. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death is ongoing.
