A vegan mother from Florida was found guilty of starving her 18 month old son after subjecting him to a diet of only raw fruits and vegetables, and she could receive life in prison at her sentencing hearing.
The jury convicted Sheila O’Leary, of 30 years, for six counts including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated homicide, child abuse, in addition to two counts of child neglect, New Press reported.
The victim, Ezra O’Leary, weighed only 17 pounds, just seven pounds below average when his parents found out he had passed away.
Both Sheila and her husband, Ryan O’Leary, told the police that Ezra was following a strict vegan diet, but argued that he was milk-fed
They also indicated that the boy had not eaten for approximately a week before his death, and also had trouble sleeping.
Prosecutors accused Sheila of failing to seek proper medical care for her son at the time she realized he was ill.
“She chose to ignore his screams,” Assistant State’s Attorney Sara Miller said during closing arguments. “She didn’t need a scale to see her bones. She didn’t need a scale to hear her cry”.
Furthermore, the prosecutors limited that the couple had neglected their other three children, all of whom are under 11 years old, when Ezra passed away.
Meanwhile, the defense asked the jury in its closing argument to consider that their client did not take her baby to the doctor because she may have been afraid that her son would be taken from her, adding that Sheila “had no intent to harm Ezra.”
The defendant, who previously rejected the prosecution’s plea deal for 28 years in prison, she was warned by the judge in charge of the case that if she is found guilty, she will receive a life sentence. However, the sentencing hearing is scheduled for next July 25.
With information from the New York Post / Agencia EFE