In Alabama, a plea deal has spared a mother from jail time after being charged with manslaughter and aggravated child abuse following the tragic death of her 8-year-old son with cerebral palsy, who died from starvation. Zedria Rankin, the mother, entered a guilty plea for the lesser charge of child abuse and has been sentenced to three years of probation, as confirmed by her attorney.
The devastating incident occurred on April 6, 2018, when Rankin's son, LeBrawn, was discovered unresponsive in their Mobile apartment, where he was later pronounced dead. A civil lawsuit has been filed against Rankin and the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), alleging that officials from LeBrawn's school had reported concerns of abuse and neglect to DHR. The lawsuit claims that LeBrawn, who was wheelchair-bound, endured severe dehydration, bed sores, neglect in hygiene, and prolonged periods without diaper changes.
At the time of his death, LeBrawn weighed just 23 pounds, according to AL.com.
In 2021, a grand jury indicted Rankin on charges of manslaughter and aggravated child abuse, citing her failure to provide adequate food and care for her son and her willful maltreatment. However, two years later, Rankin accepted a plea deal.
Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood emphasized the importance of pursuing justice in a fair and just manner. He stated, "We are prosecutors, we want to get the bad guys, we have to do it in a way that is right, and is just, we don't manufacture evidence." Blackwood acknowledged the tragic nature of the case and the evidence pointing to neglect on the part of the defendant.
Rankin's attorney, Rolando Rankin, clarified that her "best interest" plea did not constitute an admission of guilt. He noted that had she been convicted at trial, she could have faced up to 99 years in prison. Rankin expressed gratitude for the closure the plea provided and acknowledged that her life would never be the same.
While the criminal case has concluded, the civil case remains ongoing. It was filed in 2020 by attorney Tommy James on behalf of LeBrawn's estate, alleging that Rankin and DHR acted negligently and caused LeBrawn's death. The lawsuit contends that DHR should have removed LeBrawn from his mother's home, given repeated reports of suspected abuse from school officials.
A spokesperson for DHR declined to comment on the lawsuit. Attorney Tommy James emphasized that LeBrawn's tragic death should serve as a wake-up call to individuals and institutions responsible for protecting children, stating that "the system failed LeBrawn at every turn," and it is essential to prevent such suffering from happening to any child in the future.
In another development, a mother and her adult son are currently on trial in California, facing charges related to a kidnapping plot that took place in 2016. Sandra Garcia, aged 48, and her son, Mark Anthony Roque, aged 25, are accused of various felonies connected to the kidnapping of a then-13-year-old girl. . See detailed story here
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