A Florida woman has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder in the death of her 18-month-old son.
Last June, Sheila O’Leary, 38, was sentenced after her son, Ezra, died from “complications of severe malnutrition and dehydration”.
According to the police report obtained by NBC-15, when Ezra died on September 27, 2019, he weighed only 7.7 kilograms and was the size of a seven-month-old baby.
When paramedics responded to Sheila O’Leary’s 911 call, they said they found Ezra not breathing and his two brothers, ages three and five, showing the effects of “extreme malnutrition.”
State Attorney Amira Fox’s office said the two children “also suffered extreme neglect and child abuse” and that Sheila was prohibited from any contact with them.
According to investigations, Sheila O’Leary said her family followed a strict diet of raw fruits and vegetables, although she and her husband told investigators that Ezra was also breastfed.
Adding to the woman’s first-degree murder conviction are charges of aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter, child abuse and two counts of child neglect. Her husband, Ryan O’Leary, is awaiting trial on the same charges. He has not yet pleaded guilty and is being held without bail.
The local channel WINK reported that Lee Hollander, the woman’s lawyer, assured that the couple will appeal the verdict that was released in a Lee County court after a trial carried out after Sheila rejected an agreement with the Prosecutor’s Office state that consisted of a sentence of 30 years in prison.
Source: Okchicas
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