Shreveport Woman Arrested for Medical Neglect of a Child

Shreveport Police responded to the Fairfield Avenue State Office Building regarding a welfare concern involving a child.

The report was made by a  caseworker with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) who had received information from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and LSU Health regarding a case of medical neglect involving a 6 year-old.

According to the report, the child had brain surgery last October after being diagnosed with a brain mass. Due to complications following the surgery the child requires consistent medical follow-up care.

Hospital staff reported that around seven scheduled appointments had been missed and six others had been canceled since the surgery, despite attempts by staff to contact the child’s mother, LaShonda Zenon, to confirm the appointments. Repeated attempts to reach Zenon were unsuccessful.

In January, DCFS received a formal report of medical neglect. As the investigation progressed, DCFS obtained an order for custody of the child last month.

Earlier this week, DCFS returned to the residence and saw Zenon inside the home but she refused to answer the door or phone calls. DCFS still had custody authority for the child but law enforcement did not yet have a legal order to enter the home.

The day after DCFS saw Zenon in her home,  a Caddo Judge signed an order, granting law enforcement the authority to enter the home in order to locate the children. Officers saw Zenon leave the home, placing a clear bag containing unknown items and a handbag inside of a car before walking back toward the house.

Officers moved in to contact Zenon when she re-entered the home and refused to answer the door despite officers knocking and announcing their presence.

Officers saw Zenon attempting to run out from the back of the home with her children by climbing over a fence into a neighboring yard. Zenon was quickly caught following a brief foot pursuit.

The children were turned over to DCFS workers. The children were crying, sweating, and visibly shaken, with minor cuts to their hands and feet from climbing the fence. The injuries were treated on scene.

Zenon was placed in to custody. She told SPD that she went outside, noticed officers down the street, and then grabbed the children and attempted to escape through the backyard.

Zenon also admitted to Police that she had not taken the child to follow-up medical appointments, stating that she had been busy and did not have time.

During the investigation, officers also found drugs in the home.

From SPD:

"Zenon was arrested and charged with the following: Possession of Schedule I Narcotics (40:966), Resisting an Officer with Flight (14:108), Obstruction of Court Orders (14:133.1), Controlled Dangerous Substances in the Presence of Juveniles (14:91.13) – three counts

All three children were placed into the custody of DCFS."