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Baby found covered in faeces hiding near mum's body 'after FIVE days'

A badly dehydrated toddler “covered in human faeces” was trapped in a homeless shelter with her mum’s dead body for five days last year, her dad claims.

Lyric Laboy was 15 months old when she was found hiding under a bed near her mum Shelby Westlake’s body at the East River Family Centre in New York City on July 25, the New York Post reports.

The 26-year-old had died from an accidental overdose.

Now, the young girl’s dad Quraan Laboy, 31, plans to sue the city and the Department of Homeless Services for USD$5 million (A$6.9m) amid claims his daughter continues to struggle mentally and physically following the traumatic incident.

The department has denied that Lyric was alone for five days and told the New York Post an investigation is underway.

Lyric Laboy is held by her dad after the incident. Right is a photo of her mum Shelby Westlake who died last year.
Lyric Laboy was 15 months old when found hiding under a bed near her mum Shelby Westlake’s body at the shelter. Source: New York Post

Ms Westlake and her daughter shared a unit at the shelter for three to four months after the couple separated.

A neighbour alerted authorities to a “foul odour” coming from the apartment six days after she last signed into the shelter, according to a Manhattan Supreme Court petition filed by Mr Laboy.

Lyric lost three kilograms while alone in the home, but has since regained the weight.

However, she has yet to heal from a “horrific” nappy rash and refuses to leave her dad's side, forcing him to leave his job to care for her full time, the petition says.

“She always wakes up in the middle of the night, she’s kicking, she’s fighting, saying, ‘Mommy,’ I look at her and I just start tearing up sometimes,” Mr Laboy said, describing his daughter as his number one priority.

“My daughter’s gotta deal with this mentally for the rest of her life.”

One of the dad’s lawyers Seth Harris revealed Lyric often slaps her dad on the face while he’s sleeping to make sure he’s alive.

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