EVANSVILLE, IN – A young mother in Indiana is facing severe charges following the near-starvation of her infant son, a situation so dire that authorities compared the child’s condition to that of a Holocaust survivor.

The mother, identified as 26-year-old Christin Donat from Evansville, was detained by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office last week. The arrest followed an investigation by Indiana’s Department of Child Services after Donat’s 2-month-old son was reportedly rescued by a friend and taken to a hospital for urgent care.

According to the sheriff’s office, the baby boy weighed only 6 pounds, 6 ounces at the time of his hospitalization, which is two ounces less than his birth weight. He was suffering from severe malnutrition, dehydration, and starvation. Sheriff Noah Robinson detailed the infant’s grave condition, noting the child had lost so much body fat that his skin was hanging from his bones.

Remarkably, once admitted to the hospital, the infant began to recover quickly. Within days, he had gained three pounds, a significant improvement that led investigators to suspect neglect. “The rapid weight gain made it apparent that the child was not being properly fed,” Robinson noted, highlighting key evidence in the case.

Initially, Donat told investigators that she was feeding the baby formula several times a day, but she alleged that he was unable to keep it down. She also mentioned feeling overwhelmed by her work and personal obligations. However, subsequent tests at the hospital contradicted her account, showing that the infant could digest food without issue.

Robinson described the inconsistency as revealing deliberate neglect, stating that Donat’s version of events did not match with observed facts. He credited the friend who took action as vital in saving the child’s life, asserting that without intervention, the infant might not have survived.

Donat, who was formally charged on November 22, reportedly acknowledged that she should have acted differently and recognized the severity of the situation. The incident prompted hospital staff to alert a Department of Child Services case manager, leading to a formal neglect investigation.

The accused is currently held at Vanderburgh County Jail with a bond set at $25,000. The case highlights the critical role of vigilance and swift action in preventing tragic outcomes for vulnerable children.