A 10-year-old girl, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, died last summer after going into a coma during a road trip with her family. Authorities in Washington state reported that the child died from prolonged diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a serious complication that occurs when the body accumulates high levels of ketones due to a lack of insulin. The mother, identified as Lloydina McAllister, 42, was charged with first-degree negligent homicide. She remains in custody on $1 million bail while awaiting trial. Investigation revealed long hours without assistance. Police indicated they began investigating the case when the mother took the child to a Tacoma hospital in July. When doctors received her, the girl had already been dead for several hours, according to court documents. Authorities detailed that during the return trip to the hospital—a journey of approximately 714 miles, from the Oregon-California border to Tacoma—the mother passed by more than two dozen hospitals without stopping or calling 911. The body was found in the back seat of the vehicle, next to her siblings, already showing clear signs of rigor mortis. Severe symptoms before and during the trip. According to the indictment, the day before the trip, the child's insulin pump registered very high glucose levels, and the girl was already vomiting, a common symptom of DKA. During the trip, the mother sent a message to her own mother—an employee at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital— indicating that the child had diabetic ketoacidosis.

Despite this, she waited until arriving at the hospital in Tacoma on the afternoon of July 18, when it was too late.

The mother had received prior medical training

Prosecutors maintain that McAllister was fully aware of the risk of not attending to the emergency. The child had been hospitalized several times since her diagnosis in 2018,And in May, the mother received specific medical instructions on managing the illness, following concerns about previous episodes of uncontrolled glucose levels.

The court document states that the defendant “failed to provide life-saving care to her daughter, despite being trained and aware of the potentially fatal risks.”

Fear of a legal conflict with the father

When interviewed, the mother stated that she did not seek help earlier because she feared violating the parental agreement with the father, which allegedly prohibited her from taking the child out of state. She said she was unaware of the legal consequences of doing so and did not want to notify the father.

Authorities clarified that the minor was formally in the mother's custody at that time.

Defense and trial on the way

McAllister pleaded not guilty, and her trial is scheduled for late December. So far, the defense has not issued any public comments. Kirkland Police Chief Mike St. Jean described the case as one of great emotional difficulty: “Our commitment is to protect our most vulnerable residents, especially children who cannot defend themselves.” The investigation continues as the mother faces charges that could lead to lengthy prison sentences.