A North Platte couple has been charged after an infant was taken to Great Plains Health and found to be severely malnourished.
Jason Borda, 37, and Melinda Borda, 34, are both charged in Lincoln County Court with committing negligent child abuse resulting in injury.
According to an arrest affidavit, on June 14, North Platte Police were called to Great Plains Health after they found the infant to be severely malnourished.
The affidavit says the Bordas allegedly took the infant to a local pediatrician’s office after having concerns he had not gained weight since he was born in December 2021. The pediatrician immediately referred the Bordas to the emergency department at Great Plains Health.
A North Platte Police officer said hospital staff were told by Melinda Borda that the infant had not received any medical treatment since he was taken to the same pediatrician’s office when he was 5 days old so she and Jason Borda could obtain a birth certificate.
Melinda Borda also did not receive any prenatal care and the infant was born at home.
The affidavit says the infant weighed roughly the same amount as he did at his earlier appointment.
Upon speaking with medical staff at Great Plains Health, the North Platte Police officer was advised the infant was diagnosed with failure to thrive and was transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
At Children’s, the boy was also diagnosed with hyponatremia, metabolic acidosis and hypochloremia. He was then placed in the pediatric intensive care unit.
During the infant’s stay, the affidavit says, doctors at Children’s determine there is no medical reason explanation for his failure to thrive.
Additionally, the affidavit says Children’s staff became concerned after Melinda Borda gave inconsistent reports of how much she and Nathaniel Borda fed the infant and what they fed him. They were also concerned as they reportedly had to prompt Melinda and remind her to feed the infant.
The affidavit says the infant gained a little more than 3 pounds from June 16 to June 24 and has continued to gain weight almost every day since being at Children’s.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said investigators learned there were additional children in the home and they were removed.
The Borda’s bonds have both been set at 10% of $75,000. Court records do not list their next court date.