Queens mom starved and killed her 7-month-old baby boy

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Carla Garriques, 28, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on manslaughter and other crimes for allegedly starving her infant child to death. The baby boy died on October 30, 2020 as a result of severe malnutrition and medical neglect.

District Attorney Katz said, “This baby was delivered at full term and born healthy. Tragically, during seven short months of life he suffered with too little food and barely any medical care. He died underweight with loss of muscle, bone and other maladies. As alleged, this defendant – the infant’s mother – was the sole caregiver who neglected medical attention and failed to provide basic sustenance for life to this helpless victim.”

Garriques, of Liberty Avenue in St. Albans, Queens, was arraigned this morning before Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant on a three-count indictment. The defendant is charged with manslaughter in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child. Justice Pandit-Durant remanded the defendant and ordered her to return to Court on August 2, 2021. Garriques faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

District Attorney Katz said, according to the charges, the baby boy named Kemari was born in March of 2020 and weighed 5 pounds and 11 ounces. Living in Florida, at five and six weeks old, the newborn was treated twice at a hospital in Broward County. At the last visit, he weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces and was thriving. However, at two months, the defendant is alleged to have switched the baby’s diet from breast milk and formula to blended fruits, vegetables and nuts.

According to the charges, the mother and child moved to Queens in early October of 2020, and between 2 and 6 months of age the baby had only gained 2 pounds. On October 30, 2020, at approximately 9:50 p.m., emergency medical technicians and police responded to a 911 call and found the baby unresponsive and without a pulse. He was transported to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead at roughly10:35 p.m. At that time, little Kemari weighed just 9 pounds and 5 ounces. A typical weight for a 7 to 8-month-old is 17 to 22 pounds.

Continuing, said the DA, an autopsy performed on the victim showed severe malnutrition, dehydration, a loss of muscle mass and bone demineralization. The little boy’s body also had an enlarged liver, an extensive kidney infection and sepsis. Medical evidence showed that the baby had allegedly endured prolonged malnutrition.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.