A Washington mother has been charged with manslaughter in the death of her 10-year-old daughter who suffered from Type 1 diabetes, according to local police.
Lloydina McAllister was arrested earlier this month after an investigation was conducted following her daughter’s death in July, the Kirkland Police Department said in a press release on Friday.
The 42-year-old is accused of taking her daughter on a family trip to the Oregon-California border knowing that her daughter was having issues with her insulin pump. When the family returned to Washington state and visited a hospital, the child was already dead and experiencing rigor mortis, investigators said.
Newsweek has reached out to the KPD and the King County prosecutor’s office for more information by email Sunday.
It’s unclear if McAllister has legal representation at this time.
Why It Matters
The death of a 10-year-old girl in Washington has drawn national attention to issues concerning medical care for children with chronic illnesses and the legal responsibilities of caregivers.
Authorities accused the mother of failing to provide necessary help for her daughter, who had Type 1 diabetes—a condition that can become rapidly life-threatening if left untreated.
What To Know
The KPD said they began its probe on McAllister on July 24 following a report from Child Protective Services (CPS) after the mother brought her deceased daughter to a hospital in Tacoma.
According to court charging documents, the girl’s death occurred during a family trip that began on July 17.
McAllister, her daughter, other siblings, and her boyfriend planned to visit the Oregon–California border. The probable cause filing said the girl’s insulin pump had already recorded high blood glucose readings, and she had been vomiting—both warning signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening medical emergency for patients with Type 1 diabetes.
The group ultimately turned back toward Tacoma. On the morning of July 18, McAllister informed her own mother, who is a children’s hospital employee, by text message that she intended to bring her child in, stating, “I’m bring[ing her] in she is DKA we was on way to California but she was taking her pump out,” according to the court documents.
By the time the family arrived at the Tacoma hospital later that afternoon, medical staff determined the child had likely died several hours earlier. Investigators noted that rigor mortis had already set in, and the girl’s body was found stiff in the vehicle’s back seat.
Charging documents allege that McAllister drove approximately 714 miles across multiple states, passing more than two dozen hospitals, without seeking urgent care or calling emergency services. Police determined the mother did not call 911 during the ordeal.
In police interviews, McAllister said she refrained from stopping at a hospital or calling 911 due to concerns about violating a parenting agreement, which barred her from taking her daughter out of state and reporting the trip to the girl’s father.
On November 4, KPD arrested McAllister on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter. She is being held on $1 million bail at the King County Correctional Facility.
Police said in its press release that a lack of medical intervention contributed to the 10-year-old’s death.
What People Are Saying
Mike St. Jean, Kirkland Police Department Chief, said in a press release Friday: “This was a complex and emotionally challenging investigation. The collaboration between our detectives, medical professionals, and prosecutors was essential in bringing clarity to what happened. We remain committed to protecting our community’s most vulnerable residents, especially children who cannot advocate for themselves.”
What Happens Next?
McAllister has pleaded not guilty and her trial is scheduled to begin next month in King County Superior Court.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected in Washington state, the KPD said you can call 911 for emergencies or reach the Department of Children, Youth & Families at 1-866-END-HARM (1-866-363-4276).