In 2010, a little boy with Down syndrome, Giovanni “Govi” Eastwood, was discovered malnourished and mistreated in the attic of his family’s home. At just six years old, he weighed only as much as a typical three-year-old.
Even after authorities had located and removed his mother, Rachel Perez, who was arrested for outstanding warrants, and her other children, Govi continued to hide in the attic.
“She (Perez) made up a story about where Govi was,” said Sergeant John Klingele, who led the search for the child. “So, they all left, and Govi was left behind.”
The officers returned to the house for another search, suspecting the child might still be inside. After calling out, they quickly realized he was hiding in the attic.
When they found him, Govi appeared “like a child out of a concentration camp, with bones and skin,” Klingele recounted. Despite being told he was seven, he looked no older than three.
Govi was covered in filth, weighed just 17 pounds, had trouble walking, and barely spoke. He was also covered in feces.
His malnutrition led to rickets, which caused his bones to become brittle and buckle, and the fatty tissue in his buttocks to deteriorate. Hospital staff later reported that Govi would not have survived if he hadn’t been rescued that night.
The police believed Govi had been hidden away by his mother since he had no blanket or toys.
As a consequence of her treatment of Govi, Perez was sentenced to eight years in prison for attempted murder. When the police officers who found Govi that day reunited with him six years later, they were astounded by his transformation.
“The kid is enchanting,” one officer remarked.
Ultimately, Govi and his two sisters were adopted by his great aunt and uncle, Stacy and Joe Eastwood. Govi’s recovery has been gradual; at first, he would only sleep on the floor and flinched at the thought of being hit if someone attempted to give him a high five. However, now that he has found a new home, he feels safe and loved.
“He truly brings out a better person in everyone he interacts with,” Joe Eastwood said. “That kid has extraordinary powers.”
