6-Year-Old Malnourished Child Treated As 'Convict' Dies Of Extensive Injuries; Mother Charged

A Wisconsin mother has been charged for the death of her 6-year-old son, who died of extensive injuries endured from abuse.

Prosecutors charged 31-year-old Tasha M. Rockow of West Allis Saturday with false imprisonment and chronic child neglect resulting in the death of her son. The investigators found that the child was restrained in handcuff, denied food and refused medical treatment for severe injuries from the abuse. The child was found with a stab on his abdomen which caused his death on Sept. 6, reported Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

When the emergency officers responded to Rockow's call saying the victim fell on a knife, they found the boy covered in bruises from "head to toe." A medical examination determined that the boy was stabbed earlier and had developed septicemia from the injury.

The doctors observed the child had no muscle tone and was malnourished. They noted the child had several injuries, cuts and soft tissue hemorrhages covering his body and internal organs. His skin had human bite marks and his arms were broken, Chron reported.

The victim lived with his father for most of his life and was placed in his mother's custody after his father died in March 2020. According to the criminal complaint, Rockow disliked her former partner and took out the animosity on the child. The victim was reportedly treated "very differently" from her two other children, aged 9 and 10, who lived with her.

Rockow's sister alleged that the child was often denied food and was not allowed to use any furniture. She said the child had to stand in front of the dinner table and eat.

Rockow reportedly made the child hold a plastic fork covered in hot sauce in his mouth, causing him to vomit. The child was treated like a "convict" and punished to stand for extended hours with palms against the wall, according to a complaint written by Rockow's sister.

A friend of Rockow told police that she found the boy handcuffed with his hands behind his back and his legs shackled.

On Sunday, the court ordered Rockow to be held in custody on $151,000 bail.