Alyssa N. Wehmeyer, 21, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, has been charged with child abuse or neglect resulting in death, according to authorities.

The arrest follows the tragic death of her 1-year-old child, who allegedly went nearly two days without food. On March 4, Wehmeyer was formally charged after an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, prompted by a request from the Cape Girardeau Police Department to look into the suspicious death of a toddler.

Authorities determined that the child suffered from extreme malnutrition and neglect, leading to their death. Wehmeyer was taken into custody on March 3 and transported to the Scott County Jail.

An autopsy revealed that dehydration was a likely cause of death, with little evidence of food found in the child’s stomach, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Wehmeyer told investigators that the child had last eaten on February 26 at around 5-6 p.m. She said she put the child to bed the following evening after changing their diaper, at which point they had gone roughly 24 hours without food.

During the early hours of February 28, the child woke up crying, and Wehmeyer reportedly held them for about 30-40 minutes before putting them back in bed. Around 1 p.m. that day, she found the child unresponsive, with blue lips and no signs of breathing.

Authorities noted that the child had not had a diaper change in nearly 19 hours and suffered from severe blisters caused by diaper rash. Documents stated that the child had been left alone in their crib for almost 19 hours.

Wehmeyer claimed she had not changed the child’s diaper due to a migraine, saying she had taken three Excedrin and napped. She also admitted that she had not sought medical care for the child’s malnutrition or worsening condition.