Ohio Couple Charged with Child Endangering After 9-Year-Old Found Critically Malnourished

911 Call and Initial Discovery

• 911 dispatcher receives a call from Aaron Stalling reporting his 9-year-old son was having difficulty breathing and seemed weak.
• Medics were dispatched to a house on Helen Street in Elmwood Place, Ohio, where they found the child and his two younger siblings in a dire state.
• The 9-year-old was found critically ill with a core body temperature below 80°, severe malnourishment, and weighing only 30 pounds.

Allegations Against Caregivers

• Angel Holland, identified as the children's custodian since 2020, and her live-in boyfriend, Aaron Stalling, face charges of child endangering and felonious assault.
• Holland reportedly stated the child complained of a stomach ache three days prior and admitted no medical care was sought after a recent fall, citing preoccupation with another child.
• Stalling, when informed of the boy's condition, reportedly responded, "We feed him," a statement met with disbelief given the child's state.

Condition of the Siblings

• The younger siblings, aged six and eight, were also found to be malnourished and required hospitalization.
• Detectives noted the extreme malnourishment, with all three children weighing less than 30 pounds.

Evidence and Legal Proceedings

• A search of Holland's vehicle revealed bungee cords, a belt, and soiled towels, items considered to have evidentiary value.
• Both Holland and Stalling were booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center on three counts each of felonious assault and child endangering, with bail set at $600,000.
• The prosecutor described the case as one of the most insidious he has seen in decades, highlighting the severity of the alleged abuse and neglect.

Expert Analysis on Neglect and Abuse

• Dr. Daniel Bober, a forensic psychiatrist, explained that neglect, the failure to provide basic needs, is the most common form of child maltreatment.
• He noted that severe abuse thrives in isolation and silence, emphasizing the importance of community vigilance and asking questions when something seems amiss.
• The extreme low core body temperature of the 9-year-old indicated he was dangerously close to death, with the body's ability to adapt to chronic malnutrition being a key factor in survival.