A frantic call for help on New Year’s Day set off a chain of events that ended in tragedy for a 5-year-old boy in Louisiana and criminal charges for his parents.
According to PEOPLE, deputies with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a gas station in Geismar at around 9 p.m. on Jan. 1 after receiving a report of a medical emergency involving a child.
When they arrived, they found Marley Perilloux unresponsive and in the care of his father, Marlon Perilloux.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies immediately began CPR while waiting for emergency medical personnel to arrive. Marley was transported to a nearby hospital as first responders continued life-saving efforts, but he was later pronounced dead.
The child’s death prompted an investigation by detectives with the sheriff’s office Juvenile Unit. During their initial assessment, investigators noted what they described as apparent injuries on Marley, as well as broader signs of neglect, including severe malnourishment.
As part of the investigation, detectives executed a search warrant at the home where Marley lived with his parents, Marlon Perilloux, 33, and Raynisa Young, 27.
Inside, authorities said they found conditions that were “barely livable,” raising further concerns about the child’s well-being.
During interviews, detectives determined that both parents had failed to provide basic care for their son, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.
Investigators concluded Marley had not been given proper hygiene, regular meals, or necessary medical attention. At the time of his death, the child reportedly weighed approximately 19 pounds.
Following the investigation, both parents were arrested and each charged with negligent homicide and second-degree cruelty to juveniles.
In addition to the neglect-related charges, authorities said both also face charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and illegal carrying of weapons.
The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that both suspects were booked into the Ascension Parish Jail without bond. As of the latest update, it was not clear whether either had entered a plea or retained legal representation.
The case has drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding Marley’s death, which investigators say unfolded after what initially appeared to be a sudden medical emergency.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation revealed a pattern of neglect that they allege contributed directly to the child’s condition and ultimate death.
Authorities have not released additional details as the case proceeds through the legal system.
