Ohio Foster Mom Accused of Starving 9-Year-Old Autistic Boy Until He Drank Dishwater, Claimed She Was Following Nutritionist’s Advice

CINCINNATI, OHIO — An Ohio foster mother is facing a felony child endangerment charge after police say her 9-year-old autistic foster son was found so severely malnourished that he tried to drink dishwater and rummage through garbage cans for food.

Kelly Lewis, 52, of Cheviot, was arrested Wednesday following a months-long investigation into alleged neglect that spanned from April to August 2025, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Child Found Severely Malnourished

Investigators said school staff first raised the alarm after noticing that the boy appeared frail and visibly underweight. When questioned, the child was found to have lost around 14% of his body weight, prompting a hospital stay that lasted nearly a month.

Authorities said the boy — who is nonverbal and has autism — was seen drinking dishwater and scavenging through trash cans for scraps of food.

“This was a severe violation of trust,” prosecutors said during Lewis’s court appearance, describing the case as one of the most troubling examples of caregiver neglect in recent memory.

Foster Mom Claims She Followed Nutritionist’s Advice

Lewis, who has served as a foster parent since 2007, reportedly told police and the court that she was “following the advice of a nutritionist” by feeding the boy only specific protein shakes.

Her attorney added that the boy had multiple medical issues, including seizures, and said his limited diet was medically supervised.

However, investigators and medical staff disputed that explanation, stating that malnutrition and neglect were evident long before the boy’s hospitalization.

Judge Orders Strict Conditions

Lewis was booked into the Hamilton County Jail and later released on $50,000 bond on Thursday afternoon. As part of her release, she will be required to wear an ankle monitor and is barred from contacting the child.

“Stay away from that kid,” Judge Bernie Bouchard reportedly told her during arraignment.

Lewis remains the foster guardian of a 14-year-old child, though it’s unclear whether that teen has been removed from the home.

Ongoing Investigation

Officials with Hamilton County Job and Family Services confirmed the boy is now in protective custody, but they have not released an update on his current medical condition.

Lewis is due back in court on November 17.

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