A 21-year-old Ohio woman has been arrested after her toddler was found severely malnourished and injured, with investigators saying the girl was left home alone overnight for months while her mother worked.
Naomi Holloway is facing a child endangerment charge following the discovery, according to jail records and a criminal complaint. Authorities say Holloway failed to provide adequate care and supervision for her daughter, who was 2 years old at the time and was taken to the hospital on Jan. 20 weighing just 17 pounds.
A probable cause affidavit states the child’s low weight resulted from being deprived of adequate food and water over a prolonged period. According to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, a healthy weight range for a 2-year-old girl is between 22 and 32 pounds, meaning the toddler weighed significantly below normal for her age.
Officials say Holloway admitted to providing the girl with limited food and water over an extended period, and to leaving her home alone and unsupervised during overnight work shifts that ran from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
The affidavit also describes a visible injury consistent with neglect, noting the child’s skin had begun to peel from prolonged exposure or lack of care. The girl, now 3, remains part of an ongoing investigation into her welfare.
Jail records show Holloway is currently being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $50,000 bond. She also has a separate court appearance scheduled for Wednesday on unrelated charges, including criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, and operating a vehicle under the influence.
A hearing on the child endangerment charge is scheduled for July 6. The case remains under investigation, and further details are expected to emerge as it proceeds through the court system.
