Hope Taylor, left, and Caleb Shane Decapio

FOLLANSBEE – Two Brooke County residents are facing felony child neglect charges after their 1-month-old baby was found unresponsive Wednesday morning and later declared dead.

Caleb Shane Decapio, 21, and Hope Lynn Taylor, 20, each face 28 counts of gross neglect of child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.

According to a copy of the criminal complaint, provided by the Brooke County Magistrate Court Office, Brooke County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 228 Peacock Lane, Follansbee, at 4:52 a.m. Wednesday for a report of the baby being unresponsive.

During interviews with Taylor and Decapio, Taylor reportedly told deputies “she fell asleep while breast feeding the baby,” and “when she woke the baby was between her and Caleb Decapio” with the child found to be unresponsive.

Deputies noted “the residence was in deplorable condition, including several piles of animal feces, multiple dirty diapers, and dishes covered in mold in the kitchen.” Similar conditions were found in the parents’ bedroom on the second floor, where deputies found “a large amount of dirty/soiled diapers, used baby wipes, garbage and animal feces.”

The child was declared dead at 5:30 a.m. by Brooke County Ambulance who had been on scene attempting to resuscitate him in an ambulance.

Law enforcement on scene noted the baby’s diaper “appeared to be full,” and “noted a bruise on the back of the baby’s head, near the base of the skull,” as well as a small amount of blood on the side of the baby’s cheek.

A search warrant was obtained and executed just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, where deputies reported “the bedroom where the child was in had approximately 80-100 soiled diapers, and approximately 20 baby bottles,” and “that the bottles all had rotten milk inside of them.”

Food items within the residence all had mold, deputies reported, “especially in the room where the child slept.”

According to the complaint, the 28 counts are derived “for each day that the baby resided in the deplorable conditions.”

Both Taylor and Decapio are being held at the West Virginia Northern Regional Jail, with each on a $100,000 surety/cash bond.

If convicted, they face one to 10 years in prison for each count.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)