A Sanford woman has been arrested and charged with child neglect, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

  • Michelle Spinicchia is accused of child neglect
  • Deputies say she failed to feed her son or take him to the doctor
  • Spinicchia is also charged with domestic battery, resisting arrest

Michelle Spinicchia, 26, was arrested Sunday in connection with the death of her 3-week-old son, Benjamin Mitchell, according to deputies.

An investigation began last year after the baby’s death. On August 10, deputies responded to a residence on the 100 block of White Cedar Road after receiving a call about an unresponsive baby.

Spinicchia told deputies that she and baby’s father discovered that Benjamin wasn’t breathing that morning.

An autopsy revealed that the infant was severely malnourished and underweight. The Medical Examiner’s Office also determined that Benjamin was born prematurely and required medical treatment for breathing issues. However, deputies said Spinicchia failed to take him to follow-up doctor appointments.

Investigators determined that Spinicchia failed to provide medical care and to properly feed the infant, which resulted in his death.

The case was forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office. On March 15, a warrant was issued for Spinicchia’s arrest.

She was booked into the John E. Polk Correctional Facility. During the booking process, deputies say Spinicchia became agitated and damaged a fire sprinkler head in her cell.

She now faces additional charges of criminal mischief, preventing or obstructing extinguishment of fire and false fire alarm.

At the time of her arrest, Spinnicchia was out on bond for a March 11 arrest involving domestic battery and grand theft of a controlled substance.