In April and May 2025, Hennepin County child protection and the Minnetonka Police Department opened an investigation into allegations of severe dietary restriction resulting in malnutrition by TIARA LATRESE GLOVER, Defendant herein, regarding her 2-year-old daughter, hereafter "Victim." Defendant brought victim [NAME REDACTED] on April 25, 2025 for assessment of a worsening, whole-body rash on the child's body. Medical providers immediately recognized the severity of Victim's presentation and offered transport to Children's Hospital emergency department.
Defendant declined transfer and indicated she would bring Victim to the ER the next day. Emergency medical providers advised Defendant that Victim's medical condition was emergent and required immediate hospitalization. Defendant continued to refuse medical transport to the hospital but agreed to bring Victim to Children's the next morning. At Children's hospital, Victim was assessed by emergency providers, who determined that Victim's severe and worsening skin rash was most likely the result of nutritional deficiency.
Doctors insisted on Victim's admission to the hospital despite Defendant's resistance. Medical providers determined that, in addition to the severe dermatitis, Victim's presentation included notably low calcium, albumin, and phosphate, iron deficient anemia, and undetectable Vitamin D. After extensive evaluations by numerous pediatric medical specialists, providers diagnosed Victim with severe malnutrition due to dietary restrictions. Providers were unable to identify any medical cause or condition for Victim's symptoms that was unrelated to malnutrition.
Defendant told medical staff that Victim eats "a vegan diet," but providers described the diet provided by Defendant as "much more restrictive than a vegan diet." Victim was prescribed formula feeding via tube and developed refeeding syndrome in the hospital. Refeeding syndrome is a dangerous metabolic condition that can develop when a malnourished person begins consuming more calories and nutrients. The condition can result in cardiopulmonary dysfunction and even death if not monitored and managed closely by medical providers.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] intensive care for treatment of refeeding syndrome and the other symptoms of severe malnutrition. Secondary to malnutrition, Victim was found to have a bleeding disorder (coagulopathy). Victim developed a clot in the left ventricle of her heart, which required surgery and continued care in the intensive care unit. Victim was also noted to have significant overall developmental delay resulting from malnutrition. Victim's medical providers noted repeated concern for Defendant's lack of understanding and insight into the cause of Victim's illness, specifically as it related to Victim's extremely restricted diet.
