Dehydrated 1-year-old girl found foaming at the mouth died from a stroke after her mother and mom’s boyfriend decided to get high and left her unattended for over 14 hours; couple arrested

Iowa – In a deeply disturbing case from Iowa that drew nationwide attention, a 23-year-old mother, identified as K. Morris, and her 24-year-old boyfriend, identified as M. Morgan, have been arrested after leaving a 1-year-old girl alone for more than 14 hours, resulting in her tragic death from dehydration and a stroke.  The couple now faces serious charges in connection to the young girl’s death. Morgan is charged with child endangerment causing death, neglect of a dependent person, and child endangerment by deprivation of necessary care resulting in death. Morris has been charged with neglect of a dependent person. Both are in custody as they await further legal proceedings.

According to investigators, the 1-year-old girl was left unattended in her crib while her mother and the mother’s boyfriend got high and neglected to check on her. By the time help arrived, it was far too late. An autopsy revealed that the girl died from severe dehydration and a subarachnoid hemorrhage, a type of brain bleed typically associated with stroke. Her hair also tested positive for several substances, including methamphetamine, nicotine, diphenhydramine, and beta-phenethylamine, a stimulant—signaling long-term exposure to harmful substances.

The investigation began on September 22, 2024, after Morgan called 911 from the couple’s apartment, reporting that the baby was unresponsive. First responders found the girl stiff, with blue lips, open, unresponsive eyes, and foam coming from her mouth. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was declared dead.  According to court records, the child hadn’t been checked on for at least 14 hours. She was last seen alive the night before, but instead of checking on her condition, Morris and Morgan admitted to getting high and going to sleep. When Morris finally entered the room around 11:05 a.m. the next morning, the 1-year-old girl was already gone—likely having died two to six hours earlier.

The child had been placed in a worn-down pack and play, used as a crib. The bedding was stained with bodily fluids and covered with a dark fitted sheet to block light. The room was littered with trash, food, and signs of neglect. The entire apartment reportedly smelled of cat urine and feces, with prescription medications and hazardous items left within reach. Evidence gathered by the police department, in partnership with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the attorney’s office, showed that the girl had suffered long before her death. Medical records revealed that her weight had been steadily dropping for seven months, moving from the 89th percentile to below the fifth percentile.

Messages between Morris and Morgan showed frustration over the girl’s feeding habits. During the days that Morris was out of town, Morgan texted about trying to feed her ramen noodles and, when unsuccessful, simply putting her back in her crib. There were multiple signs that the 1-year-old girl was sick, lethargic, and eating little to nothing—but no one sought medical help. When Morris returned, she admitted she knew her daughter was sick but chose not to check on her or take her to a doctor. Instead, she and Morgan got high, ignoring all warning signs of a rapidly deteriorating child. In interviews, Morgan admitted that he was overwhelmed and that meals required preparation, though he also claimed there was more food in the home than just ramen. Morris added that she had often left her daughter with another partner for extended periods, sometimes up to a month.

The grim reality is that a baby only one year old died alone, surrounded by filth and neglect, while the two people tasked with keeping her safe chose to get high and ignore her cries. The legal process will determine the length and severity of their punishment, but the facts are already clear: a child’s death was entirely preventable, and it was prolonged neglect, not a sudden event, that ultimately stole her life. As the trial approaches, authorities say the evidence points not to a single mistake but to a pattern of disregard and abandonment that left a vulnerable baby defenseless against pain, hunger, and a slow, agonizing end.