Community pays tribute to 4-year-old who died of starvation in Harlem

HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) – A community is coming together to hold a memorial service and rally in remembrance of a 4-year-old who died of starvation on Oct. 13. 

Community members and leaders gathered at the National Action Network on Saturday morning and later, in front of the home where the 4-year-old was found, for the prayer service and wreath-laying ceremony. 

The event was led by the National Action Network and W.A.R.M., the anti-domestic violence organization. 

“Violence against anyone in our community is violence against all of us. We lost a precious four year-old child. Losing a child is unacceptable in this day and age,” said Stephanie McGraw, Founder and CEO of  W.A.R.M., Inc.

The child, Jahmeik Modlin, was found unconscious by police in a home on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard on Oct. 13. According to authorities the boy appeared malnourished and had burns on his chest.

His parents, 26-year-old Nytavia Ragsdale and 25-year-old Laron Modlin, were both arrested and charged with second-degree manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child, according to court documents. 

Officials say the couple had three other children who were taken to the hospital for evaluation and were determined to be severely malnourished.