Three people were arrested Friday, nearly a year after a 3-month-old child died in St. Lucie County. Nicole Maxwell, 27, the child's mother, Robert Maxwell, 61, the child's grandfather, and Vikki Koon, 38, Robert Maxwell's girlfriend, face charges in the case according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies, detectives and crime scene investigators responded to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center on Aug. 20, 2025, after the 3-month-old was brought to the emergency room by the child's grandparents. The sheriff's office said medical personnel notified them that the child had been pronounced deceased and exhibited injuries and conditions consistent with possible neglect. The Medical Examiner determined the child's manner of death to be homicide, with the cause of death attributed to dehydration and malnutrition.
Each suspect faces charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child and aggravated child abuse. Bond was set at $1.5 million for each defendant.
Sheriff Richard Del Toro said in a statement that the death of a child is a tragedy that affects the entire community. He commended Detective Corporal Jennifer Diaz for her leadership and thanked the detectives, crime scene investigators, professional support staff, the Medical Examiner's Office and the State Attorneys whose commitment and teamwork led to the arrests.