South Carolina Social Worker Charged After 12-Year-Old Daughter Found Weighing Just 47 Pounds

Authorities say the girl suffered severe malnutrition, fragile bones and a hip infection after reportedly subsisting on a limited vegetarian diet.

A South Carolina woman has been charged with unlawful conduct toward a child after authorities said her 12-year-old daughter was found severely malnourished and weighing just 47 pounds.

Chiquitta Dawkins, 43, was arrested following an investigation by the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said the girl also had fragile, underdeveloped bones, an infection in her left hip and several untreated dental cavities.

Father Raises Concerns About Daughter’s Health
According to an incident report and arrest warrant obtained by The Times and Democrat, Dawkins and her daughter lived in Bowman, South Carolina, before moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, in July 2026.

On August 22, the girl went into her father’s care. He reportedly noticed that she was limping and appeared unusually small for her age, prompting him to take her to a pediatrician.

The doctor reportedly determined that the child was significantly underweight and diagnosed her with malnutrition. An X-ray revealed low bone density and underdeveloped bones, which authorities linked to inadequate vitamin D and calcium.

The Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office later said the girl weighed only 47 pounds and had what officials described as “frail bones.”

Limited Diet and Serious Medical Concerns
Investigators said the girl reportedly followed a vegetarian diet consisting of quinoa and beans. Authorities also found that she had not received dental care for several years and had multiple untreated cavities. She was allegedly behind on recommended vaccinations.

Officials further reported that there were no records showing the girl had attended school after kindergarten.

At her pediatrician’s recommendation, the child was admitted to a hospital, where she remained for 13 days and received nutrition through a feeding tube. An investigator reportedly determined that she was approximately five years behind in her development and measured 4 feet, 3 inches tall.

Mother Faces Child-Related Charge
Dawkins, who reportedly worked as a licensed independent social worker for 18 years, allegedly avoided calls from investigators during the inquiry.

She was subsequently arrested and held on a $35,000 bond. The charge against her is unlawful conduct toward a child.

Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell criticized the circumstances described by investigators, saying the child’s severe malnutrition should never have been allowed to develop.

The allegations have not been proven in court. Further legal proceedings will determine the outcome of the case.

Source: Law&Crime — Social worker mom fed 12-year-old daughter only ‘quinoa and beans’