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Boy, 12, is found 'starved to death after being locked up at home'- as sickening text messages and surveillance footage lay bare his horrifying final days
A 12-year-old Utah boy was found dead after suffering years of suspected abuse, including extreme malnutrition.
Gavin Peterson died on July 9 after deputies from the Webster County Sheriff's Office were called to his father's home in West Haven after reporting the young boy was 'not breathing' and 'experiencing vomiting' for days on end.
Officers and paramedics attempted to resuscitate Gavin who was found on the bathroom floor. He was then taken to the hospital, where he later died, police said.
His father, Shane Peterson, 46, stepmother, Nichole Scott, 50, and older brother, Tyler Peterson, 21, were all arrested in connection to Gavin's horrific death that was brought on by 'a prolonged pattern of abuse over the course of several years.'
Sickening surveillance footage and text messages between the three revealed Gavin's final days, where he was only fed 'a piece of bread with mustard,' 'one-third cup of water' and was not 'allowed to use the bathroom,' the affidavit said.
Gavin Peterson died on July 9 after deputies from the Webster County Sheriff's Office were called to his father's home in West Haven on a report of the young boy 'not breathing' and 'experiencing vomiting' for days on end
His father, Shane Peterson, stepmother, Nichole Scott, and older brother, Tyler Peterson, were all arrested in connection to Gavin's horrific death that was brought on by 'a prolonged pattern of abuse over the course of several years'
'The deputy noted that the bathroom floor was wet and the child’s skin was cold to the touch,' the affidavit said.
'Nichole and Shane reported that the child had been ill for several days, experiencing vomiting and seizures, but was not taken to a doctor. On the day of the incident, Nichole found the child in his bedroom, covered in vomit, and assisted him into the shower.'
Once Gavin was taken to the hospital, doctors found that his body 'showed malnutrition to the point the child’s internal organs had shut down completely. The child’s body was visibly emaciated,' according to the affidavit.
Upon further investigation into the child's tragic death, detectives discovered multiple text messages between Tyler and Shane where they discussed the condition of Gavin.
In the messages, Tyler told his father that Gavin was not breathing, asking what he should do, the affidavit said.
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 be carrying items to the shed. A search of the property uncovered small surveillance cameras in the shed Tyler entered,' the affidavit said.
Screenshots of surveillance footage that monitored Gavin's room were also uncovered on Nichole's phone that showed the horrendous conditions the boy was living in.
'In most of the screenshots, the child is only wearing a heavily saturated diaper. The child can be seen curling up on the carpet-less floor of the room, which lacked bedding or blankets.
Once Gavin was taken to the hospital, doctors found that his body 'showed malnutrition to the point the child’s internal organs had shut down completely'
'Several screenshots also showed sores on the child’s back. The room appeared to have multiple cameras, as the infrared lights from other devices were visible in the screenshots.
'The photo also showed the door handle with a locking mechanism positioned on the outside of the room,' the arrest report said.
After searching through the suspects phones, detectives found text messages where they discussed if Gavin was 'allowed to use the bathroom' restroom or 'given any food.'
Their conversations also included talk about 'hitting or beating' Gavin, including 'using a piñata stick to do so,' the report said.
'They also talk about how the door to the child’s bedroom is locked and how he has to knock on his door in order to leave.
'When talking about feeding the child victim, the three suspects talk about only giving the child one-third of a cup of water, only giving him a piece of bread and mustard, or not feeding him food at all.
'All of this messaging and evidence revealed a prolonged pattern of abuse over the course of several years,' the affidavit said.
Gavin's mother, Melanie Peterson, told KSL TV Gavin was under the legal custody of Shane after she lost custody of all four of her children between 2014 to 2015 after she pleaded guilty to a drug-related charge.
Although Melanie completed the terms of her sentencing, she was not able to regain custody of her children.
On several occasions Gavin's mother reported neglect and abuse from Shane and Nichole after noticing her second oldest child was malnourished, and described the horrid conditions she endured while under her father and stepmother's care.
'Nichole trapped [them] in the room. The lock was on the outside. She couldn’t get out,' Melanie said.
'She ziptied [them] to the bed, there was a camera so if [they] did anything, if [they] did get out, she would see it on the camera.
'She wasn’t able to eat anything, only one meal a day, and it was smothered in mustard because all my kids hate mustard.'
In 2019 she reported the suspected abuse to the Webster County Sheriff's Office and authorities referred Melanie to DCFS, but at the time, the agency was closed during Memorial Day Weekend.
Screenshots of surveillance footage that monitored Gavin's room were also uncovered on Nichole's phone that showed the horrendous conditions the boy was living in at his father's home (pictured)
Investigators eventually interviewed her daughter she shares with Shane and said they found no signs of physical abuse. They only offered therapy for the child and physical examination was never conducted, Melanie said.
After regaining visitation rights to see Gavin in November 2019, Melanie noticed signs of malnourishment.
'The last time I saw him, I took a picture of him because he looked so skinny. I wanted to take him in, to see a doctor,' she recalled.
She again went to document her concerns to authorities and took another picture of Gavin in February 2020 without a shirt on. Melanie never saw her son again after that.
Gavin's mother claims that Shane and Nichole banned her from seeing Gavin again after they found out she took pictures of him.
She alleges that the couple made false complaints against her that in turn, took all visitation rights from her. Although she filed the allegation, the case was dragged out by the Utah Division of Child and Family Services during the pandemic, according to Melanie.
'And it’s not that I didn’t try. No one helped me,' she said.
'To know he died that way- I don't know how anyone could do that to anyone.'
The agency told DailyMail.com: 'The loss of any child impacts and devastates us. This is tragic for so many from the family and the community to all of those involved.
'The Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) works with children and families during some of their most vulnerable moments.'
Melanie wasn't the only person who noticed Gavin was allegedly being neglected, as Jan Davis, a school cafeteria worker at Kanesville Elementary School, picked up on it too.
“He was small for his age, quite thin, they kept his hair buzzed and he often missed school,” Davis told KSL TV.
Gavin's mother, Melanie Peterson, said Gavin was under the legal custody of Shane after she lost custody of all four of her children between 2014 to 2015 after she pleaded guilty to a drug-related charge
Davis revealed that she and a coworker would give Gavin lunch, even though the school told them not to do so because they wanted struggling families to complete a form to qualify for reduced lunch.
She said she called DCFS and school officials on multiple occasions to report her concerns, but nothing was done to help him.
'I think school was a safe haven for him… but I just don’t think we did enough for him,' Davis said.
Gavin stopped attending school by August 2023 for his sixth-grade year. Davis said Nichole 'pulled him out of school to homeschool him.'
DailyMail.com contacted the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, Webster County Sheriff's Office and Kanesville Elementary School for comment.
Shane and Nichole were booked into the Weber County Jail on July 17 for child abuse homicide, two counts of aggravated child abuse, and child endangerment.
Nichole is also facing charges of drug possession and investigation obstruction of justice. Tyler was arrested on July 18 for child abuse homicide, two counts of aggravated child abuse and obstruction of justice.
Jail records revealed that all three of them are being held without bail.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Melanie and her family pay for Gavin's funeral service and 'therapy sessions' to understand the tragic loss.
'While they await justice, the family is picking up the shattered pieces by planning funeral services and arranging therapy sessions for Gavin's older siblings, who've also suffered from abuse and neglect while in their care,' Heather Routh, Melanie's sister, said.
According to Routh, Gavin loved Pokemon and science, and his favorite color was blue.
A vigil was held for the 12-year-old on Tuesday at a local church in the community.