Tanya Hannon: Wyoming mom charged after 4-year-old son found weighing just 18 lbs due to starvation

If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.

GREYBULL, WYOMING: A four-year-old boy was discovered emaciated and weighing a mere 18 pounds, comparable to that of an eight-month-old baby. The child had suffered significant brain damage.

The alleged perpetrator, his mother, identified as Tanya Hannon, also known as Tanya Earl, has been charged with aggravated child abuse on claims she starved her child. 

Tragic journey of a severely tortured child

The distressing saga began on February 15 when Hannon discovered her son unresponsive and sought assistance from her mother. They rushed the child to the emergency room at Three Rivers Hospital in Basin, Wyoming.

She claimed to Greybull police that her son had tripped on a toy, but medical professionals found the child in a critical condition, prompting his admission to the pediatric intensive care unit.

Medical reports detailed the dire state of the boy's health, with colorless lips and hands, unresponsiveness to pain, and fixed, dilated eyes. He required intubation due to his inability to clear his throat, which had become lodged with food.

His condition was so grave that he had to be airlifted to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he received extensive medical intervention, including medication, electrolytes, and ventilator support as he was unable to breathe on his own.

Dr Margaret Russell, a child abuse pediatric fellow at Primary Children's Hospital, disputed Hannon's explanation for her son's condition. Russell highlighted the child's shocking physical state, including emaciation, "pressure sores," hair loss, brain volume loss, dangerously high levels of sodium, extremely low oxygen levels, and acute kidney injury.

These findings led Russell to suspect prolonged starvation as the cause of the child's condition.

Concerns mount over welfare of children in Tanya Hannon's household

Further investigation by authorities revealed alarming details about Hannon's living situation. She shares a home with her boyfriend, Ty Myers, and reportedly has four other children, including a newborn. However, authorities found no medical records for these children, raising concerns about their welfare.

The gravity of the situation prompted child protective authorities to intervene, determining that the child had suffered severe abuse.

Meanwhile, Hannon's father expressed shock at his grandson's condition, noting the stark change in his appearance.

Police discover drugs at Tanya Hannon's residence

He remembered the boy looking "a little Ethiopian," and remarked that he "ate up a storm", at his home. The investigation took a darker turn when, on February 27, police executed a search warrant at Hannon's residence and allegedly discovered drug paraphernalia, including methamphetamine pipes and residue, reported Daily Mail.

She was subsequently taken into custody on March 1, as per court documents. The case, which was initially processed at the Big Horn District Court, has now been escalated to a felony-level offense.

If convicted, Hannon faces up to 25 years behind bars and $10,000 in fines, according to reports from Cowboy State Daily.