Relatives came and went from the south Omaha house where police found a severely malnourished baby in a maggot-infested crib.
But Gary Malm Jr., 23, always said his children were upstairs napping, the grandfather of the 14-month-old boy and his two siblings said Thursday.
"As long as (Gary Jr.) has been in that house, I've never been upstairs," Gary Malm Sr. said.
The grandfather said that when the 3- and 4-year-old children stayed with him and his wife a couple of weeks ago, they seemed fine. The adults did not see the 14-month-old, Devon, at that time, said Malm Sr.
Nobody had an inkling that things might not be right with Gary Jr.'s young, struggling family, said the elder Malm.
Devon was hospitalized after police searched the younger Malm's home Tuesday. The older children have been placed in foster care.
The children's father told police he had given up caring for Devon, according to a police affidavit filed in Juvenile Court.
Gary Malm Jr. waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday and was ordered to stand trial in District Court on a felony child abuse charge. Judge Lyn White set bail at $500,000.
Officers went to 1709 S. 16th St. to follow up on a call from Child Protective Services. Once inside, they found two scenes that stood in stark contrast.
Police found the two oldest children, apparently healthy, playing in a well-kept basement of the home.
Then police went upstairs.
At the top of the stairs, they were hit by the smell of urine, feces and rotting skin, prosecutor George Thompson said Wednesday.
Devon lay inside a crib. Maggots, urine and feces surrounded him. He was unable to hold up his head. And he couldn't stand on his own because his legs were constricted.
The police affidavit said Gary Malm Jr. told police he hadn't bathed the boy, changed his diaper or taken him out of the crib for the past month. Authorities didn't say whether or how often Malm had given the child food or drink.
The toddler has been hospitalized with severe malnutrition.
Full Story from Omaha.com
But Gary Malm Jr., 23, always said his children were upstairs napping, the grandfather of the 14-month-old boy and his two siblings said Thursday.
"As long as (Gary Jr.) has been in that house, I've never been upstairs," Gary Malm Sr. said.
The grandfather said that when the 3- and 4-year-old children stayed with him and his wife a couple of weeks ago, they seemed fine. The adults did not see the 14-month-old, Devon, at that time, said Malm Sr.
Nobody had an inkling that things might not be right with Gary Jr.'s young, struggling family, said the elder Malm.
Devon was hospitalized after police searched the younger Malm's home Tuesday. The older children have been placed in foster care.
The children's father told police he had given up caring for Devon, according to a police affidavit filed in Juvenile Court.
Gary Malm Jr. waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday and was ordered to stand trial in District Court on a felony child abuse charge. Judge Lyn White set bail at $500,000.
Officers went to 1709 S. 16th St. to follow up on a call from Child Protective Services. Once inside, they found two scenes that stood in stark contrast.
Police found the two oldest children, apparently healthy, playing in a well-kept basement of the home.
Then police went upstairs.
At the top of the stairs, they were hit by the smell of urine, feces and rotting skin, prosecutor George Thompson said Wednesday.
Devon lay inside a crib. Maggots, urine and feces surrounded him. He was unable to hold up his head. And he couldn't stand on his own because his legs were constricted.
The police affidavit said Gary Malm Jr. told police he hadn't bathed the boy, changed his diaper or taken him out of the crib for the past month. Authorities didn't say whether or how often Malm had given the child food or drink.
The toddler has been hospitalized with severe malnutrition.
Full Story from Omaha.com