Muskogee Police Investigating Death Of 12-Year-Old Boy

Muskogee police are investigating the death of a 12-year-old boy who was severely malnourished and living in poor conditions.

EMS and Muskogee Police were called to a home on West Denver Street in Muskogee at about 8:45 Thursday evening.

A 12-year-old boy was unresponsive and died in the house.

"The home was in poor condition, animal feces on the floor, some soiled diapers and that type of thing," said Muskogee Police Corporal Michael Mahan.

11/21/2014 Related Story: Muskogee Police Say 12-Year-Old Boy Dead Of Possible Neglect

The medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death, but police said the boy was only 3-feet-7-inches tall and weighed just 37 pounds.

According to the CDC, the average height and weight for a 12-year-old boy is 4-feet-10-inches and 90 pounds.

Neighbor David Stewart is saddened by the boy's death.

"He didn't really come out much because he had to be in a walker and all. When he did come out, they'd play with him and he'd play with the dogs," Stewart said.

The child had severe health issues since birth.

"The family reports the child wasn't able to talk and was not able to walk, so he's had an ongoing medical condition his entire lifetime," Mahan said.

Technically it's a neglect investigation, but at this point investigators aren't sure if neglect played a role or if the boy's death was the result of his severe, ongoing health issues.

The boy has lived with his grandmother and aunt since this past summer.

"Anytime there is the death of a child, it impacts all of us, and so it's something we're definitely going to take seriously, something we will look into and we will get to the bottom of whatever caused this," said Mahan.

Police will forward the case to the district attorney's office for consideration of any possible charges that could be filed in the boy's death.