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Inset: Nikol L. Zenon (Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area in Louisiana where Zenon lived with her children (Google Maps).
In Louisiana, a 39-year-old mother is facing serious allegations of medical neglect, accused of failing to bring her 6-year-old daughter back for critical medical follow-ups after the child underwent brain surgery late last year.
LaShonda Nikol Zenon was arrested on Tuesday evening, with authorities charging her with multiple offenses. These charges include possession of Schedule I narcotics, resisting an officer by flight, obstruction of court orders, and possessing controlled dangerous substances in the presence of juveniles.
The Shreveport Police Department revealed in a recent news release that Zenon came under investigation following a report from a caseworker with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The caseworker expressed concerns over the welfare of the young child, who was suspected to be suffering from medical neglect.
These concerns were initially raised by medical professionals at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Affiliate Clinic at Feist-Weiller. Back in October 2025, the child had undergone surgery to remove a craniopharyngioma, a type of brain mass.
Post-surgery, the child reportedly experienced significant medical issues, including hypopituitarism, diabetes insipidus, and adrenal insufficiency. Each of these conditions necessitates ongoing and diligent medical attention, which allegedly was not provided, leading to the current charges against Zenon.
Doctors told authorities that since the surgery, seven medical appointments had been missed and six others had been canceled. The medical staff said its repeated attempts to contact Zenon were unsuccessful.
DCFS opened a medical-neglect investigation on Jan. 14 and later obtained a custody order for the child on Feb. 26, police said.
Detectives with the Shreveport Police Department made several attempts to locate the child at the family’s residence in the 9000 block of Royalton Drive but were unsuccessful.
On March 10, after a judge signed a court order allowing officers to enter the residence if necessary, police conducted surveillance at the home. Around 5:30 p.m., officers spotted Zenon outside placing items into a vehicle before returning inside the house.
“When officers moved in to make contact, Zenon ran back inside and refused to answer the door,” police wrote in the release. “Officers positioned around the residence then observed her flee out the back of the home with the children by climbing over a six-foot privacy fence. After a brief foot pursuit, Zenon was taken into custody.”
The children were safely recovered and turned over to DCFS workers at the scene. Police said the children were “crying, sweating, and visibly shaken,” with minor scrapes from climbing the fence.
Zenon later told investigators she had a “feeling” police were in the area after receiving a phone call from an unknown person and spotting officers down the street before attempting to flee with the children, according to a report from local CBS affiliate KSLA.
She allegedly acknowledged that the child had missed follow-up medical appointments after the brain surgery, telling investigators she had been busy and did not have time to take the child, the station reported.
Zenon was booked into the Caddo Parish Jail, where she is being held on $10,000 bond. It was not immediately clear when she was scheduled to appear in court.