A 12-year-old Utah boy was found dead after suffering years of alleged abuse, including extreme malnutrition.
Gavin Peterson died July 9 after Webster County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to his father’s West Haven home after reports that the boy was “not breathing” and “experienced vomiting” for days.
Officers and paramedics attempted to resuscitate Gavin, who was found on the bathroom floor. He was then taken to hospital, where he later died, police said.
His father, Shane Peterson, 46, stepmother, Nichole Scott, 50, and older brother, Tyler Peterson, 21, have all been arrested in connection with Gavin’s horrific death, which was caused by “a prolonged pattern of abuse over several years.”
Surveillance footage and disgusting text messages between the three revealed Gavin’s final days, where he was only fed “a piece of bread with mustard,” “a third of a cup of water” and not “allowed to use the bathroom,” according to the affidavit.
Gavin Peterson died July 9 after Webster County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to his father’s West Haven home for a report that the boy was “not breathing” and “experienced vomiting” for days at a time.
His father, Shane Peterson, stepmother, Nichole Scott, and older brother, Tyler Peterson, were arrested in connection with Gavin’s horrific death, which was caused by “a prolonged pattern of abuse over several years.”
“The officer noticed that the bathroom floor was wet and the child’s skin was cold to the touch,” the affidavit says.
‘Nichole and Shane reported that the child had been sick for several days, vomiting and having seizures, but that they had not taken him to the doctor. On the day of the incident, Nichole found the child in his bedroom, covered in vomit, and helped him take a shower.’
Once Gavin was taken to the hospital, doctors discovered that his body “showed malnutrition to the point that the child’s internal organs had completely stopped functioning. The child’s body was visibly emaciated,” according to the affidavit.
Upon further investigation into the boy’s tragic death, detectives discovered several text messages between Tyler and Shane discussing Gavin’s condition.
In the messages, Tyler told his father that Gavin was not breathing and asked what he should do, according to the affidavit.
Investigators also found home surveillance footage that showed Tyler making three trips to the shed in the backyard around the same time they called 911.
“During two of these trips, Tyler appeared to bring items into the shed. A search of the property uncovered small surveillance cameras in the shed that Tyler entered,” the affidavit said.
Screenshots of surveillance footage monitoring Gavin’s room were also discovered on Nichole’s phone, showing the horrendous conditions the boy was living in.
‘In most of the screenshots, the child is wearing only a very soaked diaper. He can be seen curled up on the uncarpeted floor of the room, which lacked any bedding or blankets.
Once Gavin was taken to the hospital, doctors discovered that his body “was showing malnutrition to the point where the child’s internal organs had completely stopped functioning.”
Several screenshots also showed sores on the boy’s back. The room appeared to have several cameras, as infrared lights from other devices were visible in the screenshots.
“The photo also shows the door handle with a locking mechanism attached to the outside of the room,” the arrest report says.
After searching the suspects’ phones, detectives found text messages in which they discussed whether Gavin “was allowed to use the bathroom” or “was given any food.”
Their conversations also included talk of “hitting or hitting” Gavin, including “using a piñata stick to do so,” the report said.
‘They also talk about how the child’s bedroom door is locked and how he has to knock on the door to get out.
‘When discussing feeding the child victim, the three suspects talk about giving the child only a third of a cup of water, only a piece of bread and mustard, or giving him no food at all.
“All of these messages and evidence revealed a prolonged pattern of abuse over several years,” the affidavit says.
Gavin’s mother, Melanie Peterson, said KSL Television Gavin was in Shane’s legal custody after she lost custody of their four children between 2014 and 2015 after pleading guilty to a drug-related charge.
Although Melanie served the terms of her sentence, she was unable to regain custody of her children.
On several occasions, Gavin’s mother alleged neglect and abuse by Shane and Nichole after noticing her second-oldest son was malnourished, and described the horrific conditions he endured while in the care of his father and stepmother.
“Nichole trapped them in the room. The lock was on the outside. She couldn’t get out,” Melanie said.
‘She tied them to the bed with cable ties, there was a camera, so if they did anything, if they managed to get out, she would see it on the camera.
‘She couldn’t eat anything, just one meal a day, and she was covered in mustard because all my kids hate mustard.’
In 2019, she reported the alleged abuse to the Webster County Sheriff’s Office and authorities referred Melanie to DCFS, but at the time, the agency was closed for Memorial Day weekend.
Screenshots of surveillance footage monitoring Gavin’s room were also discovered on Nichole’s phone showing the horrendous conditions the boy was living in at his father’s home (pictured).
Investigators eventually interviewed the daughter she shares with Shane and said they found no signs of physical abuse. They only offered the girl therapy and never performed a physical exam, Melanie said.
After regaining visitation rights to see Gavin in November 2019, Melanie noticed signs of malnutrition.
“The last time I saw him I took a photo because he was so skinny. I wanted to take him to the doctor,” he recalls.
She documented her concerns again to authorities and took another photo of Gavin shirtless in February 2020. Melanie never saw her son again after that.
Gavin’s mother claims Shane and Nichole banned her from seeing Gavin again after they found out she took pictures of him.
She alleges that the couple filed false complaints against her and in turn took away all her visitation rights. Although she filed the complaint, the Utah Division of Children and Family Services dragged out the case during the pandemic, according to Melanie.
“It’s not that I didn’t try. Nobody helped me,” he said.
Knowing that he died that way… I don’t know how anyone could do that to someone.
The agency told DailyMail.com: “The loss of a child shocks and devastates us. It is a tragedy for so many people, from family and community to everyone involved.”
‘The Utah Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) works with children and families during some of their most vulnerable times.’
Melanie wasn’t the only person who noticed Gavin was allegedly being neglected, as Jan Davis, a cafeteria worker at Kanesville Elementary School, also noticed.
“He was small for his age, fairly thin, his hair was kept shaved and he often missed school,” Davis said. KSL Television.
Gavin’s mother, Melanie Peterson, said Gavin was in Shane’s legal custody after she lost custody of her four children between 2014 and 2015 after pleading guilty to a drug-related charge.
Davis revealed that she and a co-worker would give Gavin lunch, despite being told not to by the school because they wanted struggling families to fill out a form to qualify for a reduced lunch.
She said she called DCFS and school officials on multiple occasions to report her concerns, but nothing was done to help her.
“I think school was a safe haven for him… but I don’t think we did enough for him,” Davis said.
Gavin stopped attending school in August 2023 to attend sixth grade. Davis said Nichole “pulled him out of school to homeschool him.”
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Utah Division of Children and Family Services, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office and Kanesville Elementary School for comment.
Shane and Nichole were booked into the Weber County Jail on July 17 on charges of homicide by child abuse, two counts of aggravated child abuse and child endangerment.
Nichole also faces charges of drug possession and obstruction of justice in an investigation. Tyler was arrested on July 18 for homicide by child abuse, two counts of aggravated child abuse and obstruction of justice.
Jail records revealed that all three are being held without bail.
TO GoFundMe A page has been set up to help Melanie and her family pay for Gavin’s funeral and “therapy sessions” to come to terms with the tragic loss.
“While they await justice, the family is picking up the shattered pieces by planning funeral services and organizing therapy sessions for Gavin’s older siblings, who also suffered abuse and neglect while in his care,” said Heather Routh, Melanie’s sister.
According to Routh, Gavin loved Pokémon and science, and his favorite color was blue.
A vigil was held in memory of the 12-year-old boy at a local church in the community on Tuesday.
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