Palermo, N.Y. — Complaints of child abuse were made about the treatment of a 17-year-old boy with cerebral palsy before he died last year, said Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton.
The teen, Jordan C. Brooks, was extremely underweight and had bedsores on “a significant portion” of his body when he died in May 2021, according to the sheriff’s office. His death was partly caused by infection and malnutrition, a medical examiner ruled.
His parents, Lisa Waldron, 43 and Anthony Waldron, 37, were arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person.
Hilton told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard Thursday that “several calls” about his treatment by his parents, Lisa and Anthony Waldron, were made to a child abuse hotline from his school district and Liberty Resources, a non-profit agency that provides health and social services.
Police were called on May 9, 2021 to the couple’s Palmero home at 393 County Route 35, after Jordan became unresponsive. He was taken to a hospital where he was soon pronounced dead, deputies said.
Deputies opened an investigation because of the conditions of the home and the child, Hilton said. An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be a homicide partially due to the malnutrition and infection, deputies said.
The county Administrator Philip Church and the county Department of Social Services Commissioner Stacy Alvord did not respond to inquiries from Syracuse.com
Lisa and Anthony Waldron pleaded not guilty to all charges at their arraignment Wednesday night. Lisa Waldron was held at the county jail in lieu of a $10,000 bail, $20,000 bond or $50,000 secured bond. Anthony Waldron was held on $20,000 bail, $40,000 bond or $100,000 secured bond due to a previous burglary charge.
The couple both told the judge at their arraignment they were unemployed, and Anthony Waldron said he was disabled.
The teen’s death brings back memories of Erin Maxwell, an 11-year-old in Oswego County who was neglected by her parents in Palermo. She was killed by her stepbrother in August 2008.
It emerged that Erin had been abused and forced to live in squalor by her father and stepmother. They and the stepbrother were convicted of crimes related to Maxwell’s death.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to list the name of the child as Jordan C. Brooks. That is the name used in the criminal court papers.
