Malnourished child investigation nears end

MOSES LAKE - A 2-year-old malnourished Moses Lake boy remains on life-support as detectives work to finish their investigation, a Grant County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said Wednesday.

"The child's condition remains unchanged," said Kyle Foreman.

He added detectives have spent a majority of the investigation reviewing medical records, which has required a lot of time, although they are getting close to completing the inquiry. Once the inquiry is complete, investigators will compile their findings in a report to the Grant County prosecutor for a decision on criminal charges, he said.

On May 9, deputies and paramedics were called to a home on Shorecrest Drive Northeast where, according to a warrant, they found the boy's mother, Michelle K. J. Staats, 32, on the floor in the process of administering CPR to the boy.

The child reportedly exhibited signs of extreme malnourishment, including no muscle tone, no hair, a core temperature of 89 degrees, blood loss from the rectum and, initially, no heartbeat.

He was revived by paramedics and transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake where, according to the warrant, emergency room medical staff said he was "not likely to survive."

The boy was airlifted to Providence-Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, where he remains in critical condition today.

The boy was living at the Cascade Valley home with his reported parents - Michelle and Robert Staats - along with four siblings. The 14-year-old boy and three girls ages 10, 7 and 4, are still in the custody of Child Protective Services, according to Foreman.

Foreman could not say exactly when the investigation is expected to conclude, explaining that it takes time to apply for search warrants, gather documents and review all the evidence.