A Texas mother is now facing charges after police discovered her 11-year-old nonverbal son, who has autism, was severely malnourished and living in appalling conditions, reportedly weighing only 46 pounds. Authorities noted that the child had feces “caked” beneath his fingernails.

Rachel Nicole Blaylock, 40, is charged with injury to a child. The investigation began on May 13, following a call for an “urgent welfare check” at a residence on Homan Street in Baytown, near Houston. When officers arrived, Blaylock answered the door and allowed them entry.

Upon entering, the officers were immediately struck by the overwhelming presence of flies and a strong odor of feces, so intense it nearly caused one officer to vomit, according to the affidavit.

Blaylock led the officer to her son’s bedroom, explaining that she suspected he had autism, although he had never been officially diagnosed. She revealed that the boy did not use a toilet and would defecate in his room, subsequently scattering the feces. He refused to wear a diaper, resulting in his room being covered in fecal matter. The police report also noted that his fingernails were encrusted with feces.

The boy’s bedroom door was a screen door, locked from the outside, which prevented him from leaving independently. Blaylock explained the screen door allowed her to monitor him. Previously, a Child Protective Services investigator had advised Blaylock to take her son to the hospital due to his malnourished state, but she declined to do so.

“I can’t just drop everything I’m f—ing doing and take him to the hospital so a quack a— doctor can say ‘ohh I don’t know what’s wrong with him so we can see another one,’” Blaylock allegedly said.

Cops spoke with Blaylock’s mother, who lived on the property. She was not impressed with her daughter’s parenting skills.

“She is not a good mom,” her mother allegedly said.

The suspect would often tell her son to “shut up” and made him sleep in a room with only a mattress, her mother said, according to the complaint. Blaylock and her boyfriend also allegedly used the $200 she received monthly in food stamps for themselves.

Paramedics transported the boy to a hospital where he was diagnosed with severe autism. He also had “extensive dental decay” due to neglect, doctors said. There was also “concern for possible sexual abuse.”

Police arrested Blaylock on Oct. 3 and took her to the Harris County Jail where she has since bonded out. Her next court date is scheduled for Nov. 18.