ALBANY, LOUISIANA — A 29-year-old father has been sentenced to 40 years in prison over the death of his 5-year-old son, who died after being denied medical care. Joseph Eslinger pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the death of Leonardo “Leo” Eslinger, according to Us Weekly. Eslinger reportedly believed his son was “mentally manifesting” his illness, even after the boy stopped eating and talking. An autopsy later found Leo was severely malnourished and had multiple brain bleeds.
Emergency Call Led Responders to a Home in Albany
The case began on December 28, 2023, when emergency responders were called to a home in Albany after reports that a child was not breathing. Leo was just 5 years old at the time. Police and paramedics found him unresponsive and rushed him to New Orleans Children’s Hospital for emergency treatment, where doctors worked to save his life.
Despite those efforts, Leo died three days later on December 31, 2023. His death led to an investigation by detectives from the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Investigators focused on why the boy had not received medical attention before emergency services were finally called. What they found became the center of the criminal case against his father.
A father in Louisiana will be spending the next several decades behind bars after he refused to get medical care for his son, whom he claimed was “mentally manifesting” his illness before his death. https://t.co/Z7MexAGVVJ
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) October 29, 2026
Autopsy Found Severe Malnutrition, Bruises and Brain Bleeds
An autopsy found that Leo was severely malnourished when he died. His face and body were covered in bruises and lacerations. The findings also recorded the physical injuries and medical complications the boy had suffered before his death. Medical examiners documented the injuries in detail in the autopsy report.
The examination also found multiple brain bleeds. When detectives questioned Eslinger, he admitted that Leo had been visibly unwell. He reportedly told them his son had stopped talking and eating in the days before emergency services were called. Those symptoms became a key part of the investigation, and investigators then looked at how long the boy had been in that condition.
Father Claimed Boy Was “Mentally Manifesting” Symptoms
According to a probable cause affidavit, Eslinger told investigators that his son was “mentally manifesting these symptoms.” He insisted that Leo was not as sick as he looked, and he did not seek medical help. His explanation became part of the investigation into why the child went without care.
Investigators found that Eslinger had deliberately withheld medical care even as his son’s condition got worse. He later pleaded no contest to manslaughter, which means he did not admit guilt but accepted the conviction without fighting the charge. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in the boy’s death.
Girlfriend Faces First-Degree Murder Charge
Eslinger’s girlfriend at the time, 29-year-old Diana Lopez, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Leo’s death. First-degree murder is among the most serious charges under Louisiana law. Prosecutors allege that both she and Eslinger were involved in the abuse. They also allege that Leo was treated differently from his two younger siblings, who reportedly showed no signs of similar mistreatment.
The case against Lopez is being handled separately, and she has not yet gone to trial on the murder charge. She remains in custody and is expected to appear in court. The allegations against her have not been tested in court, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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