12-year-old boy life flighted from Lincoln hospital due to severe malnourishment

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - A 12-year-old boy was life flighted after being admitted to a Lincoln hospital due to severe malnourishment earlier in January.

On Jan. 12, Lincoln Police were called to Bryan West after a 12-year-old had been brought in by his legal guardian due to significant malnourishment.

According to court documents, the child was too weak to lift himself up or speak, and he had a low body temperature of 80 degrees. Court records stated that his body weight was 47 pounds.

Court records showed that the guardian told authorities she had been sick a few weeks prior and assumed that the child had the same illness. She brought him in when he became too weak to walk.

The child was flown to Children’s Nebraska in Omaha for higher level of care due to his condition.

A child abuse expert reported that it would take several months of starvation to get the child to his critical condition. The child reportedly seemed agitated around the care giver. According to court records, his heart would race when she’d enter the room.

A court order for emergency temporary custody of the child was issued on Wednesday. No criminal charges have been filed as of Saturday night.