Cheviot, OH – A 52-year-old foster mother from Ohio is facing a felony child endangering charge after authorities say her 9-year-old foster son with autism became so severely malnourished that he drank dishwater and searched garbage cans for food. The case has raised alarms about the oversight of foster care homes and the protection of vulnerable children.
The Incident: Child Found Malnourished and Hospitalized
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Cincinnati Enquirer, the alleged abuse occurred between April and August 2025 at Kelly Lewis’s home in Cheviot, Ohio. Police said staff at the boy’s school noticed he appeared extremely thin and alerted Hamilton County Job and Family Services.
When investigators examined the child, they found that he had lost about 14% of his body weight and appeared severely malnourished. He was immediately taken to a hospital, where he remained for nearly a month-long recovery stay.
Authorities reported that the boy was seen rummaging through garbage for food and at one point drank dishwater out of desperation. Prosecutors described the situation as a “severe violation of trust” by a caregiver who was supposed to protect him.
Investigation and Arrest of Foster Mother
Kelly Lewis, who has been a licensed foster parent since 2007, was arrested on Wednesday morning and charged with felony child endangering. She was booked into the Hamilton County Jail and later released on $50,000 bond after posting bail on Thursday afternoon…