In a tragic case of child neglect and abuse from Ohio, a mother has been sentenced to 7 to 10 1/2 years in prison for severely mistreating her 3-year-old daughter. The 26-year-old mother, R. Muballigh, faced her sentencing in court recently.
On January 8th, authorities received a distress call from Muballigh, who used a fake name, reporting that her young daughter was having trouble breathing. When officers arrived at her apartment, they found it in a terrible state, filled with garbage, discarded food, and insects.
Body camera footage showed the deplorable conditions. Muballigh’s daughter was found emaciated, barely clothed, and lying next to a soiled mattress in a trash-filled room. Covered in bug bites and wearing only a soiled diaper, the child was initially thought to be dead but was still alive. She was rushed to the hospital, where she received several weeks of treatment. After recovering, she was placed with the adoptive family of her sister, marking a new beginning for her. Muballigh had previously given up another daughter for adoption.
Muballigh admitted to failing to care for her daughter and was charged with felonious assault and child endangerment. Her neglect led to her conviction. It was revealed during the trial that she had rarely taken her daughter to a pediatrician and isolated her from educational and social settings.
Muballigh’s attorney pointed to her troubled past and mental health issues, including depression and personal losses, but these were not considered sufficient excuses for the abuse and neglect.
The child’s biological father, 29-year-old C. Moody, is also facing charges of child endangerment, obstructing justice, and tampering with evidence. His trial is set for October 7, and he is currently held on $100,000 bail.
Prosecuting Attorney D. Hayes expressed his deep disturbance over the case, calling it one of the worst instances of child abuse he had seen. While the legal proceedings have brought some justice for the victim, she will need long-term healing and support to recover from her ordeal.