Mother accused of letting 4-year-old son starve to death in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) -- A mother has been charged with murder by abuse after allegedly letting her 4-year-old son die of starvation, police say.

Mercedes Ferguson, 30, of Wilmington, Delaware was taken into custody on Monday and is being held on $1 million cash bail.

New Castle County police say the investigation began after a 911 call was made from a home in the unit block of Court Drive at 1:24 a.m. on Aug. 18, 2023.

Police say the call was in reference to CPR being performed on the 4-year-old.

Officers and paramedics responded to the home where first aid was provided, but the child was ultimately pronounced dead.

He was only 23 lbs at the time of his death, officials say.

The child's body was turned over to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science, which ruled the death was homicide through starvation.

Police obtained an arrest warrant late last week after reviewing the case with the Delaware Attorney General's Office, and Ferguson was arrested on Monday.

Detectives are asking anyone with additional information to contact Detective Ashlee Starratt at (302) 395-2745 or via email at Ashlee.Starratt@newcastlede.gov.