Dexter, Mo., woman jailed for allegedly neglecting 3-month-old

DEXTER, Mo. -- A Dexter woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of her 3-month-old son.

Viva I. Wilkison, 18, has been charged as an adult in the Circuit Court of Stoddard County after an Aug. 19 tip from a person who reported her baby looked like a skeleton.

Dexter police officers immediately responded to Wilkison's home and the baby was taken to SoutheastHEALTH Center of Stoddard County in Dexter to be evaluated. Medical personnel reported the baby was a victim of neglect, malnourishment and poor parenting skills.

On Aug. 20, the infant was observed and photographed by detective Capt. Trevor Pulley at Dexter police headquarters. Pulley noted in a report that the infant was "pale, and his skin was sagging from his arms and legs." Pulley also noted the baby was "very small" and appeared malnourished.

Also on Aug. 20, Wilkison submitted to a drug screening, which proved positive for marijuana use. She admitted to having used pot Aug. 18 and 19 while caring for her infant. The baby's grandmother confirmed her daughter was no longer living with her because the two had argued over the baby not being fed properly.

On Aug. 22, detective Cory Mills met with Wilkison, who confirmed the baby "was not being fed properly."

Wilkison told the detective the baby typically vomited after every formula feeding, and said she had changed formulas and the change seemed to be helping. She told Mills she had missed a doctor's appointment because she was out of town. She also admitted to smoking pot in the baby's presence in the days prior to the findings. Wilkison also told police she was "overwhelmed" with the baby and "did not know how to properly take care of a child."

A preliminary hearing has been set for 1 p.m. Sept. 18.