DFCS responds to starving death of Gwinnett County toddler

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GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services said they are taking a second look at its procedures after a Gwinnett County toddler was found starved to death.

Reygan Moon, who was just a few weeks shy of her third birthday, was found "unresponsive and cold to touch" by officers responding to her apartments in the 4300 block of Paxton Lane in unincorporated Lilburn on July 27. She was pronounced dead, weighing just 14 pounds.

The girl’s mother, Devin Moon, 29, told investigators her daughter was born with medical issues which prevented her from gaining weight, and she wasn't immediately charged in the case. An autopsy later revealed Reygan's cause of death was neglect from malnutrition. Investigators said they later learned she was forcing her toddler to live in the closet.

Moon was charged with child cruelty and felony murder. She continued to be held without bond this week in the Gwinnett County Jail.

While investigating, police learned Moon was accused of leaving her daughter home alone most nights while she went to work, and she'd previously been reported to DFCS by her own family just a year before.

DFCS officials said a year before Reygan's death, they had initiated an investigation at the prompting of the young child’s grandmother who had repeatedly contacted them expressing concerns over the welfare of the child, believe she was in extreme danger.

DFCS said they left Reygan with her mother because Devin wanted to keep her and they said she even signed off on plans of action and started using agency resources. But at the same time, police said she cut her family off from seeing the child, who they said was isolated and starving just months later.

DFCS said it will now take another look at how it investigates.

As for the employees who oversaw Reygan's case, officials said they have since left the department.

MORE: Gwinnett County mom charged in toddler daughter's death

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