Denton County mother faces felony charge in son's malnutrition case

Joslyn Sanders, 28, stands accused of third-degree felony injury to a child in Denton County. The charge relates to the condition of her then-2-year-old son, Josiah, in late 2023. A plea hearing is set for Nov. 19 in Denton County.

Police records indicate that investigators found the boy to be dangerously malnourished. A search warrant affidavit states that Sanders took Josiah to Children’s Health in Dallas on Dec. 20, 2023. The child presented with a worsening body rash and swelling in his hands, feet, and genitals.

Physicians determined the boy required hospitalization. The affidavit notes that Sanders left the facility with Josiah around midnight, against medical advice. Doctors warned that leaving could lead to life-threatening consequences. Corinth Police officers sought the mother and child the following day.

Sanders told investigators that her disagreement with the hospital centered on antibiotic treatment. She objected to clindamycin and declined Keflex due to her own allergy and fears for her son. She maintained that staff did not inform her that Josiah could die if she left. In a complaint filed with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, she stated she obtained a different antibiotic from her son’s primary care provider the next morning.

The investigation examined the timeline of the child’s illness. Sanders reported the rash began in September 2023 after a change in laundry detergent. She said she used a holistic pediatric provider and tracked the rash’s improvement with photographs. A nurse practitioner disputed parts of that account. The provider told investigators she had not advised that the rash would worsen before improving. The provider said the child’s condition had deteriorated by December and urged the family to seek emergency care.

Investigators identified discrepancies between Sanders’ statements, cellphone photos, text messages, and medical records. A search warrant was issued for two phones to review these materials. When Josiah returned to Children’s Health, a physician said he needed 65 days of hospitalization. The diagnosis was kwashiorkor, a severe form of protein malnutrition.

Sanders previously challenged Child Protective Services over the removal of her son. She alleged a caseworker arrived with two armed officers and took Josiah without a court order following a medical dispute in December 2023. She lost that court battle. Her family said that she would not comment on the criminal case because she lacks adequate legal counsel.