The father of a Milwaukee boy found dead and malnourished last fall has been arrested
The father of a 12-year-old boy who was found dead and malnourished in a Milwaukee home last fall has been arrested.
Romuan J. Moye, 45, made his first appearance in a Milwaukee County court Monday, where a judge set his cash bail at $500,000. He did not enter a plea.
He faces five felony charges, including first-degree reckless homicide, in the death of Jacarie Robinson, who in October was found dead in his home with a broken arm and weighing 54 pounds.
He has since been remembered as a happy but quiet child who enjoyed wrestling and TikTok videos, according to Lauren and D.C. Moye — Jacarie’s uncle and aunt.
Romuan Moye has no previous criminal history, but was accused of neglect or physical abuse to his other children at least four other times, according to a report from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, which is required by state law to provide public notice of child deaths and injuries due to suspected maltreatment.
The report, released in January, said the four allegations were made between 2003 and 2020. Some were made while the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services were already providing services to the family.
All the accusations were unsubstantiated. The report said no agency policy or practice changes were necessary.
Moye has not yet been assigned a permanent attorney through the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office.
Jacarie’s death shocked the rest of his large, but long split-up, family. He lived with his father and two teenage sisters but hadn't seen his mother and grandmother for years, family told the Journal Sentinel. Jacarie also has seven other adult siblings and half-siblings who lived outside the home.
Family and court records indicated that Jacarie, who was homeschooled, had long been isolated from others. But weeks before he was found dead, his father sent the two teenage sisters to stay with their mother.
The two sisters told police that Moye could be “harsh” and violent while punishing Jacarie for things like “stealing food.” Concern among Jacarie’s family mounted in early October after nobody had seen the boy for some time, but Moye stopped returning text messages.
Jacarie was eventually found by one of his family members who went inside the home, on the 4100 block of North Elmhurst Road.
How to recognize child neglect
According to Kids Matter, Inc., which provides services for abused and neglected children in Milwaukee County, child neglect can be recognized by physical and emotional characteristics.
Physical signs
Poor hygiene and/or odor
Inappropriately dressed for weather
Unmet medical or dental care needs
Young children left alone and unsupervised for long periods of time
Failure to thrive
Malnutrition
Constant hunger, may beg or steal for food
Acts as a parent to his/her siblings
Arrives early and stays late at school, play areas, or other people’s homes
Emotional signs
Extreme willingness to please
Oldest child has a parental relationship with his/her siblings
Is always watchful, as though waiting for something bad to happen
Has learning problems (or problems concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific psychological or physical causes
Contact Elliot Hughes at elliot.hughes@jrn.com or 414-704-8958. Follow him on Twitter @elliothughes12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Father of 12-year-old, found dead and malnourished, has been arrested
