VIGO COUNTY, Ind. -- Four people were charged with neglect on Wednesday after a 9-year-old Vigo County boy died weighing less than 15 pounds.
Vigo County Sheriff Greg Ewing said it was the worst case of malnutrition he had seen in his 26 years on the job.
Deputies responded to the home in the northern part of Vigo County early Monday morning for a child that was suffering from cardiac arrest.
Cameron R. Hoopingarner, 9, was taken to Union Hospital where he later died.
According to Indiana State Police, Hoopingarner was blind and suffered from cerebral palsy. He weighed only 14.8 pounds when he died, according to Pathologist Dr. Roland Kohr.
Hoopingarner was under the legal custody of Robin Kraemer. She told police that the child had not seen a doctor in over a year, ate baby food and had suffered from pneumonia and the flu during the week leading up to his death.
Hubert Kraemer, 56, Chad Kraemer, 33, Robin Kraemer, 53, and Sarah Travioli, 30, are all facing felony charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in death and neglect of a dependent.
The four made their first court appearance on Thursday.
"Took care of him for nine years. He was sick, that's why he died. He was sick," Chad Kraemer shouted as he was escorted into the courthouse Thursday afternoon.
Two other children, ages 3 and 5, were removed from the home and are in the custody of protective services.
