Talia M Nelson: Florida mom charged with murder of 14-year-old son who died weighing only 33 pounds

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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA: Talia M Nelson, 43, of Daytona Beach, Florida, stands accused of knowingly torturing, starving, and neglecting her son, Zayke Smith-Nelson, 14, who weighed just 33 lbs (14 kg) at the time of his death. 

The mother, apprehended on February 9, now faces several charges, including first-degree felony murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, and aggravated child abuse.

Authorities discovered Talia M Nelson's teenage son in a bedridden and neglected state

Law enforcement became involved on January 1 when officers from the Daytona Beach Police Department responded to a report of an unconscious juvenile at Talia's residence on Carolina Lake Drive. 

Upon arrival, first responders were met with a horrific scene, discovering Zayke in an "extremely malnourished" state, "weighing only 33 pounds."

The bedsores covering his body hinted at the level of neglect he had endured. Talia, attempting to explain her son's emaciation, claimed that Zayke suffered from bulimia, lactose intolerance, and a rare bone disease.

However, she failed to provide any concrete evidence of medical diagnoses from professionals.

A subsequent search of the home unveiled distressing conditions, with one bedroom lacking furniture and containing only soiled clothing, emitting the stench of "stale urine." The main bedroom revealed unopened laptops intended for home-schooling, indicating a disturbing level of neglect.

What was Zayke Smith-Nelson's cause of death?

An autopsy report confirmed the severity of Zayke's malnutrition, revealing bone density loss and scars consistent with abuse. The medical examiner determined the cause of death as homicide due to abuse and neglect, as reported by WESH.

Jimmie Flynt of the Daytona Beach Police Department emphasized the dire state of the 14-year-olds health, stating, "At 33 pounds, the kid probably couldn’t even walk."

Talia M Nelson claims her son Zayke Smith-Nelson 'scooted on his b**t' to move around the house

In a police interview, Talia admitted to giving Zayke protein shakes in an attempt to counteract his apparent self-induced vomiting.

She acknowledged that she had "dropped the ball" in her failure to seek medical attention for weeks, during which her teenage son lost the ability to walk independently. Talia claimed her son would "scoot on his b**t" to move around.

Contrary to her assertions, medical records revealed that Zayke had not seen a doctor since the age of 10. The doctor who examined him in June 2020 noted he was a "well-nourished, well-developed patient, in no apparent distress."

Talia, currently held without bond at the Volusia County Jail, is scheduled to appear in court for her arraignment on March 5.