Leslie Denise Wilson, 35, was arrested on Sept. 28 and charged with murder after investigators allege prolonged medical and physical neglect of her 12-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy. Authorities say the child was found malnourished, dehydrated, weighed about 32 pounds, depended on a feeding tube, and had live maggots in her diaper; an autopsy reportedly ruled the death a homicide from sepsis. At an Aniah’s Law hearing on Sept. 29, Wilson was denied bond and remains held at the Etowah County Jail.
Alabama Mother Arrested on Murder Charge After Alleged Severe Neglect of 12-Year-Old Daughter With Cerebral Palsy
Leslie WilsonCredit: Etowah County Jail
Leslie Denise Wilson, 35, was arrested on Sept. 28 and charged with murder after investigators say her 12-year-old daughter, who had cerebral palsy, was found severely neglected and later died.
Investigation Details
Gadsden police say the child’s death was initially reported as natural, but the GPD Juvenile Unit and the Alabama Department of Human Resources launched a further inquiry after concerns about the circumstances. According to the criminal complaint and local reporting, investigators allege the girl suffered ongoing and extreme medical and physical neglect between May 1 and June 17.
Gadsden Police Major Crimes Detective Alec Burgess told a court hearing that officers found the child in her bedroom dehydrated and suffering from pneumonia. She reportedly weighed just 32 pounds, depended on a feeding tube, and had visible marks on her body. Detectives also reported finding live maggots in the child’s diaper—evidence cited by authorities as a sign of prolonged neglect.
Cause Of Death And Allegations
An autopsy reportedly determined the cause of death to be sepsis, and authorities have ruled the death a homicide. Prosecutors allege that between May 1 and June 17 Wilson "did torture, willfully mistreat, cruelly beat or otherwise willfully mistreat" the child, per the criminal complaint obtained by media outlets.
Legal Proceedings
At an Aniah’s Law hearing on Sept. 29—Alabama’s statute that allows judges to deny bail for certain violent crimes—Wilson was denied bond and remains held without bond at the Etowah County Jail, according to online jail records. It is not publicly known whether she has retained counsel or entered a plea.
Note: These are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Contacts And Resources
Local reporting referenced includes coverage by PEOPLE and WDBJ7; the Gadsden Police Department and the Alabama Department of Human Resources were contacted for comment. If you suspect child abuse or need help, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or visit childhelp.org. The hotline is toll-free, confidential, available 24/7, and supports more than 170 languages.
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