Dad, stepmum and brother charged after 12-year-old allegedly ‘starved to death’

The father, stepmother and brother of a young boy who died recently have been charged following his “traumatic” death.

A 12-year-old’s dad, stepmother and brother have been charged after the boy was allegedly “starved to death”, officials said.

Gavin Peterson died on July 9 after officials were called to his family home in Utah, The Sacramento Bee reported.

Officers and paramedics attempted to resuscitate Gavin, who was found on the bathroom floor, by performing CPR.

He was then taken to the hospital, where he later died, police said.

His father, Shane Peterson, 46, stepmother, Nichole Scott, 50, and older brother, Tyler Peterson, 21, reported that the child had been “ill for several days” and was “experiencing vomiting” but wasn’t taken to the doctor, according to an affidavit obtained by KSL News.

12-year-old Gavin Peterson died after being allegedly ‘starved to death’, police claim.

Doctors who examined Gavin’s body after his death say he “showed malnutrition to the point the child’s internal organs had shut down completely. The child’s body was visibly emaciated,” according to official documents.

Police have since accused the trio of each playing a role in his death, charging Shane, Nichole and Tyler with child abuse homicide, a first-degree felony; and two counts of aggravated child abuse, according to KSL News.

Tyler and Nichole also face additional charges of obstruction of justice, while Shane and Nichole were also each charged with child endangerment.

His father, stepmum and brother have been charged on various counts of child abuse. Picture: GoFundMe

The community has been left in shock following Gavin’s death, holding a vigil for the boy and launching a GoFundMe to help pay for his funeral costs.

“Gavin was such a happy kid, with a ready smile for everyone. His favourite colour was blue and he loved science and Pokemon,” it reads.

His former teachers have also spoken out, describing their devastating loss to Fox13.

“It was just traumatic. It’s just been heartbreaking to me,” one said.

Officials believe Gavin suffered ‘a prolonged pattern of abuse over the course of several years’. Picture: KSLTV

Details of the alleged abuse have also emerged, with court documents claiming Gavin was subjected to “a prolonged pattern of abuse over the course of several years”, Mail Online reported.

Police claim text messages between his three caregivers revealed Gavin’s final days, where he was allegedly only fed “a piece of bread with mustard,” “one-third cup of water” and was not “allowed to use the bathroom,” the affidavit said.

Gavin’s mother, Melanie Peterson, told KSL TV her son was under the legal custody of Shane after she lost custody of all four of her children between 2014 to 2015 after she pleaded guilty to a drug-related charge.

Although Melanie completed the terms of her sentencing, she was not able to regain custody of her children.