Bay County, FL – Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford announced the arrest of a Panama City woman after investigators discovered her twin infant sons were suffering from severe malnutrition.
In the early morning hours of September 30, 2025, deputies with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Blueberry Road in reference to a medical emergency. Upon arrival, deputies encountered 21-year-old Hailey Nicole Smith in the front yard holding her one-month-old son, who was unresponsive. Deputies immediately provided lifesaving medical care until Bay County Fire Rescue arrived and transported the infant to a local hospital for further treatment.
During the investigation, the BCSO Criminal Investigations Division learned that the child had a twin brother and that both infants were suffering from severe malnutrition. The children were admitted to a local hospital before being transferred to a medical facility in Gainesville for specialized care. Both infants have since been released and are recovering under the care of a family member. The children have been removed from Smith’s custody.
Throughout the investigation, detectives worked closely with medical professionals, reviewing hospital records and consulting with attending physicians regarding the infants’ condition. Based on their findings, investigators obtained a warrant for Smith’s arrest. On October 15, 2025, Smith was taken into custody and booked into the Bay County Jail on charges of Aggravated Child Neglect and Child Neglect.
Sheriff Ford expressed his appreciation to the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Gainesville Child Advocacy Center for their assistance in the case.
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