Special needs 7-year-old boy died weighing just 19 pounds after his mother and her boyfriend failed to fulfill their “basic duty to ensure that his basic nutritional needs are met;” charges
Ohio – In a harrowing case in Ohio that prosecutors say reveals unimaginable neglect, a 29-year-old mother, identified as S. Hardiman, and her 28-year-old boyfriend, identified as J. Mulvey, are facing multiple felony charges after a 7-year-old boy with special needs was found dead, weighing only 19 pounds. Authorities say the boy’s death was a direct result of starvation and dehydration—and that those responsible failed to meet even the most basic obligations of care.
Mulvey was arrested last week and formally charged with one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and one count of third-degree child endangerment. The child’s mother, Hardiman, was also indicted on two counts of murder, one count of involuntary manslaughter, and three counts of child endangerment. She remains at large. On June 2, 2023, officers from the police department responded to a call at a home and found the young boy already deceased. The boy, who had cerebral palsy and epilepsy, was severely underweight—just 19 pounds at the time of his death, a weight far below the average for a child his age.
An autopsy confirmed what officers suspected: the 7-year-old boy died from “malnutrition and dehydration associated with cerebral palsy,” with epilepsy noted as a contributing condition. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. Chief Criminal Prosecutor J. Wilson emphasized the boy’s condition during a bond hearing this week, describing him as “completely emaciated.” She added that Mulvey, who had been living in the home for approximately two years, had a clear responsibility: “He owed him a basic duty to make sure his basic nutritional needs were met.”
Prosecutors say Mulvey and Hardiman not only failed to provide care but deliberately allowed the boy’s condition to deteriorate. Despite his medical conditions, there were no signs that proper nutrition, hydration, or medical oversight was provided. Mulvey pleaded not guilty to the charges. He asked the judge for release with an ankle monitor, claiming he needed to tend to his father’s affairs and continue working on launching an auto-repair business. The elder Mulvey had died by suicide as police arrived at his home to arrest his son.
Mulvey also informed the court that he has another child with a different mother and stated that he has fulfilled his previous promises to the judge, referring to his probation for a previous failure-to-comply conviction that he said was alcohol-related. “I do not think I should be here in the first place, but that’s for another day,” he stated. “I will be a part of this process. I need answers myself.” Despite those statements, the judge denied his release request and set bond at $300,000. Mulvey is currently being held at the county correctional center. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10.
While Mulvey sits in custody, Hardiman is still on the run. A warrant has been issued for her arrest. Authorities say the charges filed against her represent multiple legal theories, including direct responsibility for the child’s death and failing to act to prevent it. This case has shaken the community, exposing not just the tragic death of a vulnerable child but the prolonged suffering that preceded it. The child’s life, and his preventable death, now sit at the center of a courtroom—as the justice system begins to weigh the cost of that failure.
