Vegan couple guilty of baby's murder

edited September 2011 in Current Events
The court in the US has upheld the murder convictions against a vegan Atlanta couple who let their six-week old baby starve to death, raising him on a diet of apple juice and soy milk.

Jade Sanders and Lamont Thomas, both in their twenties, took their baby Crown Shakur, who weighed just 1.6kg, to Piedmont Hospital on April 24, 2005, after he began to have trouble breathing.

Doctors could not resuscitate the baby and found he died because of extreme starvation.

Police found a soy milk carton, an apple juice bottle and a filthy baby bottle in the couple's apartment.

At the 2007 trial, prosecutors said the soy milk cartons in the couple's apartment clearly stated on the packaging that it was not to be used as a substitute for baby formula.

They also told the court the couple had neglected their child on purpose, refusing to seek medical help despite their son weighing the same as a foetus seven months into a normal pregnancy.

They were convicted of malice murder, felony murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children.

Sanders and Thomas were appealing their 2007 murder sentence but were unsuccessful in the Georgia Supreme Court and will now both serve their life sentences.

:-( broke my heart reading this :-((

Comments

  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • How horrible what would make them do that to an infant... smh
  • they should let them starve in prison
  • And a faith healing parent would not get nearly the same punishment even though the outcome and suffering of the child is the same.
    Sorry if that came out of left field I usually hear about this horrible story as a foil to the differences in judicial rulings on faith healing parents killing their kids vs life style (?) parents killing their kids
  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • That's so sad :-(
  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Wow.. Don't they have soy formula? Idiots! Hope they have no vegan did in prison!
  • Awwwwwwwwwwwww :'( omg how can they do that ! That makes me so mad and sad.
  • @ashleyfew I googled it after seeing this post because I remember a vegan couple making headlines for nearly starving their child (15 months old 10 pounds!) and there were about 6 cases in the last few years the one in Atlanta, ny, Miami and in the UK. Babies need the fatty omega dha etc which is impossible if the mother is eating a strictly vegan or fruit based diet. Some of the mothers did attempt breastfeeding but obviously were not successful. I think its beyond horrendous and cruel and these "parents" ignorance is no justification for what they've done
  • I don't mean to start any drama here. But unless you fully plan each meal and eat certain foods together, and educate yourself with a healthy alternative diet....being vegan, and sometimes vegetarian, is extremely unhealthy. There's a difference between being a vegetarian and not eating meat.

    Like I'm not against alternative diets. I'm against idiots starving their bodies. Our bodies and digestive systems are adapted to eating animals and animal products. Certain nutrients are either only found in meat dairy etc or in random foods... idk I'm sorry people are just stupid.
    A good example of what I'm saying is this story and my best friends sister. She became "vegetarian" but doesn't eat fruits or vegetables. She ended up malnourished and with thrush, and in the hospital for an IV and overnight stay. They found out she was living off snack foods and sodas. Doritos, cokes, cookies, etc.
  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • Im vegetarian and have been! I know there are also a couple of other vegetarians on this list! So I think the "ppl are stupid" comment was a bit rude! But whatever! My son is vegetarian, and his doctor is very happy with his health, he is 10! He is a football player, very active and well nourished! Im due in 3 weeks and my ob is happy with my diet, and my baby is healthy! And IMO it should be obvious that the issue here wasn't that they were vegan it was that they neglected their child! Any loving parent will do whatever they can to make sure baby is happy and healthy and safe! I have my opinions about a meat based diet, look @ all these kids that are being fed meat products and hitting puberty at early ages, there's studies that its from the growth hormones that are given to the animals! I have a ton of other opinions too but I understand that not everyone is going to feel the same way about things, in a nutshell there is a right and a wrong way to do everything,(obviously these parents were wrong) I don't look down upon ppl who are omni, nor do I normally preach about being vegetarian but in this case, i think I should put it out there that it is possible to be healthy without meat!
  • What the f is wrong with all these people hurting children
  • I remember when that happend! It wasn't long after my daughter was born and I remember thinking I feel so helpless when my daughter would cry because she couldn't get enough to eat and that I can't imagine how someone could watch and listen to their child starving to death
  • Omg :'( thats horrible!
  • I remember hearing about this. I can't believe they actually thought that it was ok.
  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • @2ndbutfirst.. I just literally lol'd at "veggie people"... NOT IN AN OFFENSIVE WAY... it just made me picture swamp people.. hehe
  • Omfg.... that is horrible they deserve triple life sentences
  • This is terrible. This was on an episode of the tv show House. There is nothing wrong with being vegan or vegetarian. But these people are just stupid. You can be healthy and not eat meat or animal products. I'm sure that you can find formula that meets your lifestyle requirements. Starving your baby is just neglect. Makes me so mad at how stupid people are!!!
  • Im not offended @ all I was just saying anything,even being vegan or vegetarian and raising healthy children, is possible....if done correctly! I just have another point of view and wanted to point out that you aren't a bad parent if you don't follow the normal omni diet!
  • The user and all related content has been deleted.
  • wow that is so sad...:(

    @mgrose i agree with you 100% im not a vegan nor a vegetarian but i think this articel is kinda basing it towards this group of people and missed the point in the article was that the child was neglected & malnourished

    And i also do believe that todays foods are affecting our kids and everyone else in the long run if your going to pick a lifestyle atleast research it and do it properly....
  • Wow..that's sad
  • Don't they make soy formula for one for two its not like ur gibing the baby cow milk its ur milk! Some people r stupid!
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