This article was originally published on Crafting Your Home. A human contributor also wrote and edited the post.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. Nearly one year after a 3-month-old boy was brought lifeless to a St. Lucie County hospital, investigators have arrested three members of his family and accused them of allowing the infant to deteriorate inside a dangerously neglected home.
Nicole Maxwell, 27, the child’s mother; Robert Maxwell, 61, the child’s grandfather; and Vikki Koon, 38, Robert Maxwell’s girlfriend, each face charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and aggravated child abuse. A judge set bond at $1.5 million for each defendant.
The investigation began on Aug. 20, 2025, when Robert Maxwell and Koon brought the baby, identified in court records as Robert Gunter, to HCA
Florida Lawnwood Hospital. Medical workers told responding deputies that the child was dead and appeared to have suffered severe neglect.
The Medical Examiner’s Office later determined that the infant died from dehydration and malnutrition. His death was classified as a homicide, meaning the medical examiner concluded that it resulted from the actions or failures of another person. That classification does not, by itself, determine criminal guilt.
Investigators say the baby lost two pounds in less than a month.
The condition in which Robert arrived at the hospital became a central part of the investigation.
According to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, rigor mortis had already begun by the time the infant reached the hospital. Investigators described his physical appearance as showing unmistakable signs of severe malnutrition.
Robert had reportedly weighed more than 11 pounds during a medical appointment on July 24, 2025. Less than four weeks later, he weighed approximately 9 pounds, placing him around the first percentile for babies his age, according to investigators.
Court documents described the infant’s ribs as more visible than his stomach. Detective Cpl. Jennifer Diaz, who led the investigation, told WPTV that the written facts did not fully communicate what detectives witnessed at the hospital.
“In my 20 years of law enforcement, this is one of the worst cases I’ve ever worked,” Diaz said.
Investigators said the infant lived mainly with Robert Maxwell and Koon at a mobile home in the Fort Pierce area. Nicole Maxwell was reportedly staying at her boyfriend’s home, while the baby’s father had moved to Virginia.
According to the affidavit, Koon told detectives that she generally fed the infant only twice daily. When formula was unavailable, she allegedly gave him watered-down milk mixed with baby cereal.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns caregivers to prepare formula using the precise amount of water listed on its container. Adding excess water can leave an infant without enough nutrition, while using too little water can strain the baby’s kidneys and contribute to dehydration.
The allegations in this case go beyond an isolated feeding mistake. Detectives contend that the adults responsible for Robert saw his condition worsening over several weeks but failed to obtain medical treatment.
Messages allegedly showed caregivers knew something was wrong.
Court records described communications that investigators believe demonstrate growing concern about the child before his death.
Approximately two weeks before Robert died, his grandfather allegedly sent a social media message to the baby’s father. Robert Maxwell reportedly said he was overwhelmed, wanted the infant taken elsewhere, and believed the child needed help.
“There’s something wrong. All he does is sleep,” the grandfather allegedly wrote.
Despite recognizing that the baby appeared ill, investigators said no one took him for emergency medical care.
Authorities also alleged that Nicole Maxwell visited the mobile home one day before her son died. She reportedly saw that he was unusually thin, appeared unaware of his surroundings, and was in poor condition.
During questioning, Nicole Maxwell allegedly said she considered seeking treatment but left because her boyfriend was rushing her to return home. The affidavit states that her father attempted to persuade her to remain and assist with the baby.
The following day, Robert Maxwell and Koon took the infant to the emergency room. He could not be revived.
Investigators spent nearly a year gathering medical evidence, conducting interviews and working with the Medical Examiner’s Office and prosecutors before the three arrests were announced. Sheriff Richard Del Toro credited Diaz, crime scene investigators, professional staff, medical examiners and the State Attorney’s Office for developing the case.
“The death of a child is a tragedy that affects our entire community,” Del Toro said.
Deputies describe unsafe conditions inside the mobile home.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence after interviewing family members at the hospital.
What they reportedly discovered added another disturbing layer to the case. Court documents described boarded windows, exposed electrical wiring and live and dead cockroaches throughout the mobile home. Investigators classified the conditions as an environmental hazard.
Law enforcement officers also reported finding cockroaches inside a damaged child’s playpen. The affidavit described the presence of insects as substantial and the overall condition of the property as extremely unsafe.
Two of Nicole Maxwell’s other children were living in the home, according to local reports. Authorities worked with the Florida Department of Children and Families to remove them and place them in a safer environment. They were later reported to be in foster care.
A neighbor identified by WPTV only as Suzan said she had seen children from the home walking through the neighborhood and asking for water. She described them as wearing the same clothing repeatedly and appearing not to have been bathed.
“It just looked unlivable,” she said.
Diaz said the Department of Children and Families had previously been involved with the family. Public reporting has not yet provided a complete account of that earlier involvement, including what allegations were made, what investigators observed, or how any prior case was resolved.
That unanswered history may receive further scrutiny as the criminal proceedings move forward.
Serious felony charges now move into the court system.
Under Florida law, aggravated manslaughter of a child applies when a person causes the death of someone under 18 through culpable negligence connected to child neglect. The offense is classified as a first-degree felony.
Florida law also classifies aggravated child abuse as a first-degree felony. The statute covers several forms of severe abuse, including knowingly or willfully abusing a child in a way that causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement.
Prosecutors must prove the charges against each defendant individually. The probable cause allegations represent investigators’ version of events and have not yet been tested through a trial. Nicole Maxwell, Robert Maxwell and Vikki Koon are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case also carries a wider warning for the Fort Pierce community about reporting visible signs of child neglect. Diaz said tips from neighbors and members of the public can be essential when children are too young or frightened to seek help themselves.
