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DCF: Malnourished Boy Treated For "Excessive Eating"

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A North Miami Beach boy who was found naked, emaciated and covered in apparent bruises wandering the streets earlier this year had apparently been treated by therapists for 'excessive eating."

CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald reports that a review of child welfare records revealed that the 9-year old boy had been treated for a variety of ailments over the years, but not for severe malnutrition and a difficult home life.

The Department of Children and Families said their history with the family dates back to August 2002 when a report of physical abuse to the boy was called in to the state's abuse hotline.

In the eight ensuing years, the Bailey family was reported to the state's abuse hotline six more times.

Last month the boy's parents, 34-year-old Marcee "Redd" Strong, and 39-year-old Edward Bailey, agreed to a consent plea in this case in which they admitted there was a problem in their home that lead to the boy's harm and medical neglect and required the Department of Children and Families to intervene.

Under the deal, the parents were cleared of some wrongdoing but they also admitted to having some responsibility in this case in which the child required some special care. By asking for help from the state, the parents admitted that they could not provide for his special needs.

Strong and Bailey, who have been charged with aggravated abuse and child neglect, are out on bond. Police say Strong admitted to she failed to protect the child from their other children, did not properly supervise him and did not get him the medical attention he needed in a timely manner. Bailey claimed he did not abuse the child but admitted he allowed others to do so without his intervention.

When the boy was found by a neighbor wandering the streets on January 28th he weighed only 35 pounds. He was taken to a special crisis floor at Jackson Memorial Hospital because of behavior problems.

CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed to this report.

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