Both parents of a four-year-old boy who died in Harlem earlier this week are now under arrest as investigations into the tragic death intensify. Authorities have confirmed that Nytavia Ragsdale, the boy’s mother, and the father of Jahmeik Modlin, have both been taken into custody in connection with the child’s death.
Nytavia Ragsdale was the first to be arrested on Monday. She faces charges of criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child. On Tuesday, the New York Police Department announced that Jahmeik Modlin’s father has also been arrested as part of the investigation. The specific charges against him have not yet been fully disclosed, but authorities have indicated that both parents are being held responsible for the circumstances leading to the child’s death.
The case unfolded Sunday night when police responded to a 9-1-1 call made by Ragsdale. Officers arrived at the family’s Harlem apartment to find four-year-old Jahmeik unconscious and displaying signs of severe malnourishment. Emergency responders immediately transported the boy to a local hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigators are now working to determine how long the child may have been neglected and what role each parent played in his care. The case has sent shockwaves through the Harlem community, as many question how such a tragedy could occur.
Ragsdale is due to be arraigned today, and further legal proceedings for both parents are expected in the coming days. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence, including interviews with family members and neighbors, to piece together the full extent of the neglect that led to Jahmeik’s death.
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services has also launched its own investigation, reviewing whether any prior reports or interventions were made concerning the family. The case is bringing renewed attention to the challenges of child welfare and the systems in place to protect vulnerable children.
As the investigation continues, officials are urging anyone with information about the family or the child’s welfare to come forward. The Harlem community, shaken by the news, has expressed grief and outrage over the loss of such a young life.
