Marfa
A Marfa couple was indicted on felony charges of injuring a child after their infant daughter died of malnutrition after her feeding tube dislodged and the parents allegedly did nothing to remedy the situation, according to court records and statements from the district attorney’s office.
After the January 13 indictment, Texas Rangers and Marfa Police Department officers arrested Zachary Stevens, 33 of Marfa, and Ashley Hernandez, 40 of Marfa, on February 19. Both were released four days later on $50,000 bonds.
The infant died around December 11, 2024, according to the indictment, which states that Stevens and Hernandez “intentionally or knowingly cause[d] serious bodily injury to … a child 14 years of age or younger, by failure to seek medical attention as a result of the gastrojejunostomy feeding tube dislodgment … and the subsequent failure to provide adequate food and nutrition … which resulted in severe malnutrition and death.” (Big Bend Sentinel is withholding the name of the child.) It’s uncertain how old the child was, but a social media post indicates she was somewhere around 1 year and 8 months old.
It’s unknown what condition the child may have had, but a gastrojejunostomy feeding tube is often used in pediatrics when a child’s stomach can’t easily tolerate food. Previously, Bill Parham, 83rd assistant district attorney, told the Sentinel that the case was moving slowly to indictment because of the volume of medical records his office had to examine.
The injury to a child charge is a felony, but it’s uncertain whether the cases will be prosecuted as first, second or third degree felonies—all result in the possibility of lengthy imprisonment. Stevens and Hernandez could not be reached for comment.