Police in Bronx, New York discovered the decomposing bodies of a 39-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son late Wednesday, August 14, 2024, after being called to investigate a foul odor. The mother, identified as Sharlene Santiago, is believed to have died from a medical episode, which led to the death of her bedridden son, Brian Santiago, due to starvation.
The authorities were alerted by neighbors who sensed a strong smell coming from the apartment located in the Marble Hill NYCHA complex at 5240 Broadway. The exact duration for which the bodies had been decomposing is yet to be determined by law enforcement. The family’s dog was found alive in the apartment, presumably surviving on available food.
Police sources informed the New York Daily News that Brian Santiago, who was reliant on a feeding tube, likely starved to death following his mother’s demise. A witness described the scene as the authorities entered the apartment: “They were knocking. Nobody opened the door, so they broke in. After that, I saw the ambulances all outside.”
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), which had investigated Santiago on multiple occasions, is under renewed scrutiny following the deaths. Since 2013, Santiago was investigated five times by ACS, starting with a complaint that her son tested positive for marijuana at birth. Over the years, the allegations included drug abuse, failure to thrive, and neglect. Brian had been temporarily taken from Santiago’s custody in 2016, only to be returned later.
In 2011, ACS investigated Santiago concerning her drug use and inadequate guardianship of a daughter, who was not living with her at the time of the deaths.
Councilwoman Diana Ayala, who represents parts of Manhattan and the Bronx, described the boy’s death as deeply saddening and pledged to further investigate the circumstances of the tragedy.
The tragic event has led to criticism of ACS from law enforcement officials and child welfare advocates, arguing systemic failures within the agency contributed to the deaths. An investigator highlighted that if a child is returned to a parent and later dies, it constitutes a crime, and accountability must be enforced.
The city’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is expected to perform autopsies to determine the official cause of death for both Santiago and her son. The investigation is still ongoing.
On the same night, in a separate incident in another part of the Bronx, 11-month-old Jazeli Mirabel was found dead in a bathtub, raising further concerns about the effectiveness of the city’s child welfare services.
The concerning circumstances of both deaths have sparked renewed conversations about the necessity for substantial reforms in New York City’s child welfare system. Despite previous attempts at reform, many question whether more robust interventions could have prevented Brian Santiago’s death.
