Mother, two relatives charged in 2022 death of malnourished juvenile with special needs

Chalmers Rogland, Spartanburg Herald-Journal
·2 min read

A Spartanburg County mother was charged with murder and two relatives charged with child neglect late last week related to the death of a malnourished juvenile in October 2022.

Spartanburg County coroner Rusty Clevenger said that Robert Blake Fish, 13, of Duncan, died at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center on Oct. 8, 2022, from malnutrition and dehydration. Clevenger said that Fish was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, which is a severe form of epilepsy, earlier in life and was special needs.

Clevenger also confirmed the case was being investigated alongside the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, who released warrants Friday for Fish's mother, Hope Rae Fish, 38; his grandfather, Freddie Lee Fish, Sr., 64; and his uncle Freddie Lee Fish Jr., 33.

Hope Fish is charged with murder, inflicting great bodily injury on a child and unlawful conduct toward a child. Freddie Fish Jr., is charged with accessory before the fact to a violent felony and unlawfully placing a child at risk and Freddie Fish Sr., is charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk.

According to the warrants, Robert Fish weighed 47 pounds at the time of his death and had lost the ability to walk due to lack of nutrition and his seizure medication.

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Both Freddie Fish Jr. and Sr. failed to provide him with proper nutrition, essential daily living activities, or basic hygiene tasks, the warrants allege. Hope Fish is charged with murder for depriving him of nutrition and not administering the child his prescribed medication for "months" preceding his death. He was not taken in for ordered blood work after his last medical visit in May 2022.

The warrants describe the home as being in "deplorable" conditions.

Spartanburg County Sheriff's Lt. Kevin Bobo told the Herald-Journal Monday that the agency had not previously dealt with the Fish family.

Chalmers Rogland covers public safety for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal and USA Today Network. Reach him via email at crogland@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Mother, two relatives charged in 2022 death of malnourished juvenile