18-year-old boy died of starvation after his older brothers he shared a home with restrained him to a bed following a violent episode where he threatened neighbors; brothers charged
Iowa – In a harrowing case in Iowa, three men, identified as 23-year-old Azane B., 26-year-old Pierre B., and 30-year-old Christian B., have been arrested and charged with the death of their youngest sibling, 18-year-old Ezekiel B., whose body was found under tragic circumstances. The young man’s death, attributed to starvation and dehydration while physically restrained, has raised serious questions about mental health crises and the handling of such situations within families.
On November 9, 2024, the lifeless body of Ezekiel was discovered in the home he shared with his brothers—Azane, Pierre, and Christian—in a state of decomposition. Local police were alerted to the scene after the brothers reported Ezekiel’s death, days after his demise. According to reports from local media, an investigation was launched that uncovered a disturbing sequence of events leading up to Ezekiel’s death. The investigation revealed that Ezekiel, who was suffering from schizophrenia, had experienced a severe episode on November 3, during which he had acted erratically and posed a threat to both his family and neighbors.
The family recounted to the police that in the days leading up to his fatal episode, Ezekiel had been increasingly disturbed, claiming to hear voices and hallucinating. On the night of the incident, he allegedly escaped his room and threatened the neighbors, prompting his brothers to take drastic measures. Believing they were acting for his safety, his brothers restrained him to his bed to prevent further incidents.
However, the situation deteriorated rapidly from there. While tied down, Ezekiel was reportedly denied food and water. Attempts to hydrate him when briefly unrestrained were met with resistance and aggression. According to the brothers’ account to the police, Ezekiel made noises and struggled against his bonds on November 5 and 6. By the night of November 6, Ezekiel had ceased breathing, although his brothers claimed his heart continued beating until the morning of November 7. By November 8, his body had begun to show signs of death, swelling and emitting an odor, yet it was not until November 9 that the death was reported to authorities.
The autopsy results concluded that Ezekiel died from complications likely caused by starvation and dehydration, exacerbated by the physical restraints. This led to the arrest of all three brothers on March 28 on charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault causing serious injury, and forced imprisonment. Currently, Azane, Pierre, and Christian are being held without bond at the Lin County Jail. The shocking case has not only highlighted the severe consequences of mishandling mental health crises but also the critical need for proper care and intervention in such scenarios.
The community and the victim’s family are left reeling from the tragedy, with many questioning how a call for help and better understanding of mental health could potentially have averted this disaster. As the legal proceedings continue, further details are expected to emerge, potentially shedding more light on the circumstances that led to such a tragic outcome.
