Clearwater Couple Charged After Child Dies Of Chronic Neglect

CLEARWATER, FL — A Clearwater couple has been arrested after one of their children died of chronic child neglect. Two other children who were malnourished were removed from the home.

Following an investigation that began July 12, Pinellas County sheriff's detectives charged 33-year-old Ashley Ferguson with aggravated manslaughter of a child and two counts of child neglect and 34-year-old Matthew Ferguson with three counts of child neglect.

The investigation began last summer when Ashley Ferguson found one of her children unresponsive in a bedroom of the home. She contacted emergency services. Largo Fire Rescue responded and pronounced the child dead at the scene.

Due to the condition of the child who died and the surviving two children in the home, detectives and child protection investigators were brought in to investigate.

Detectives learned that all three children in the home were malnourished, left unattended for long periods of time and never received medical care, even when the child who died lost the ability to walk in April.

Detectives said the children had bedsores, diaper rash, severely matted hair, were unable to walk or bear weight on their legs and were unable to speak.

Ashley Ferguson told investigators that the children's primary source of food was milk.

On July 16, the two surviving children were placed in the care of a family member and are now receiving oral surgery and feeding therapy. They will also receive physical and speech therapy.

An autopsy was performed on the child who died July 13. Detectives received the results Feb. 26 showing the child's death was a homicide caused by chronic child neglect.

Around 11 a.m. Thursday, detectives arrested Ashley and Matthew Ferguson and took them to the Pinellas County Jail.