Autopsy Results Released in Death of 10-Year-Old Dent County Girl

(Salem) The Dent County Coroner has released autopsy results in the death of 10-year-old Josie Ann Abney.

The adopted girls’ parents have been charged with murder since Josie’s death on October 3rd.

51-year-old Randall and 44-year-old Susan Abney are also charged with abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death.

According to the sheriff’s department report, deputies responded October 3rd of last year to the Abney residence, located in a rural location between Salem and Boss.

The girl was found in an extreme starving condition.

She was taken to the hospital in Salem where she died that day.

The autopsy says Josie died from severe cachexia and protein calorie malnutrition.

Josie Abney weighed only 34-pounds when she died.

Police say they found a lock on the refrigerator with food in the cupboards out of the child’s reach.

The child only had a mattress to sleep on, there was a lock on the reverse side of her bedroom door and an alarm on top of the door.

And in the Abney’s bedroom, drawers were apparently filled with cookies, brownies, snack bars and candy.

The Abney’s adopted the girl in 2013.

The autopsy also showed 14 head contusions and at least 25 other injuries to other parts of her body.

There were no drugs in the Abney’s system at the time of their step-daughters’ death.

That’s according to a toxicology report.

The Abney’s waived their preliminary hearing this week and their next day in court will be February 22nd at the courthouse in Salem.