Crime & Safety

Officials: Ronkonkoma Woman Starved 10-Month-Old Son to Death

Louisa Givens, 21, faces manslaughter charge.

A Ronkonkoma woman who prosecutors say starved her 10-month-old son to death was arrested on Sunday night and charged with manslaughter. 

Louisa Givens, 21, was indicted by a grand jury last Thursday in the death of Kayden Givens, who died of malnutrition and dehydration, according to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

Givens called 911 on the evening of May 19 and said she found her son unresponsive and not breathing, prosecutors said. Kayden was pronounced dead at the hospital and officials say the baby had been left unattended for at least 17 hours before his mother called for help.  

Givens also faces charges of reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of her daughter, Ava Johnson, 2, who was found to be suffering from dehydration and malnutrition, prosecutors said. Ava was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she recovered after nine days of treatment. Ava is now living in foster care.

Givens was arrested in Mastic Sunday night. Prosecutors said the investigation into Kayden's death "required months of toxicological and other tests to determine the cause and manner of death." 

Givens pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Monday and is currently being held on $250,000 cash or $500,000 bond.  





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