omg vegan couple sentenced to life over baby's death

[saltybuggah]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18574603/?GT1=9951

Vegan couple sentenced to life over baby's death
Malnourished baby was fed soy milk and apple juice, weighed 3 1/2 pound
Updated: 2:55 p.m. ET May 9, 2007
ATLANTA - A vegan couple were sentenced Wednesday to life in prison for the death of their malnourished 6-week-old baby boy, who was fed a diet largely consisting of soy milk and apple juice.

Superior Court Judge L.A. McConnell imposed the mandatory sentences on Jade Sanders, 27, and Lamont Thomas, 31. Their son, Crown Shakur, weighed just 3 1/2 pounds when he died of starvation on April 25, 2004.

The couple were found guilty May 2 of malice murder, felony murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to children. A jury deliberated about seven hours before returning the guilty verdicts.

Defense lawyers said the first-time parents did the best they could while adhering to the lifestyle of vegans, who typically use no animal products. They said Sanders and Thomas did not realize the baby, who was born at home, was in danger until minutes before he died.

But prosecutors said the couple intentionally neglected their child and refused to take him to the doctor even as the baby’s body wasted away.

“No matter how many times they want to say, ‘We’re vegans, we’re vegetarians,’ that’s not the issue in this case,” said prosecutor Chuck Boring. “The child died because he was not fed. Period.”

Although the life sentences were automatic, Sanders and Thomas begged for leniency before sentencing. Sanders urged the judge to look past his “perception” of the couple.

“I loved my son — and I did not starve him,” she said.

When the judge told the defendants they could ask for a new trial, Thomas hung his head low.

“I’m dying every day in there,” he said, “and that could take three years.”

click here for vote on if you think the parents deserve life in prison
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18576697/


imo absolutely throw the book at em and toss the key away
coming from someone who has a newborn born 3.1 pounds
dying of malnourishment is total blame for these people.
the doc and nurses definately gave these parents instructions and formula that helps the baby gain weight and grow.
this is just sad

[Kapaibro]

Since when is mother's breast milk an animal product/byproduct?

Freaks. Kids should be fed everything under the sun until they're old enough to make informed choices regarding food.

My cousin is vegetarian but she doesn't make her kids be vegetarian. She knows that as they grow they need the kind of nutrients that only a balanced diet can give.

These people are idiots and murderers.

[saltybuggah]

Since when is mother's breast milk an animal product/byproduct?

Freaks. Kids should be fed everything under the sun until they're old enough to make informed choices regarding food.

My cousin is vegetarian but she doesn't make her kids be vegetarian. She knows that as they grow they need the kind of nutrients that only a balanced diet can give.

These people are idiots and murderers.


come on kap soy milk and apple juice give all the nutrients a baby needs. :goofy:
just plain ol dumb people

they watched the child wither away and did nothing. nothing. poor child.

our baby is gaining weight like crazy from the formula she needs.

i wonder if the baby ever stayed at a hospital. they said she gave birth at home but they never said anything about the child being in the hospital. :confused:
at 3 1/2 pounds one would think the baby would be.

[Kapaibro]

the baby was 3.5 lbs at death

they're just fools.

[shanniefly]

come on kap soy milk and apple juice give all the nutrients a baby needs. :goofy:
just plain ol dumb people

they watched the child wither away and did nothing. nothing. poor child.

our baby is gaining weight like crazy from the formula she needs.

i wonder if the baby ever stayed at a hospital. they said she gave birth at home but they never said anything about the child being in the hospital. :confused:
at 3 1/2 pounds one would think the baby would be.
Gonna take a shot in the dark and say that the baby was a healthy birth weight, and while most babies gain...he lost!!! I would also guess that if they gave birth at home that they didn't have the baby to the doctor or hospital at all and used a mid-wife!!!

I just don't understand how people can become parents without a licence and passing a test...

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n144/cwolfraven/soapbox.gif

[evendelae]

Imposing political/moral beliefs on infants is just wrong. Humans are omnivorous, not Soymilkivorous. You can't raise a child like that. It's just wrong.

Being a vegan is dangerous enough when you're an adult.

[sneakers]

Imposing political/moral beliefs on infants is just wrong. Humans are omnivorous, not Soymilkivorous. You can't raise a child like that. It's just wrong.

Being a vegan is dangerous enough when you're an adult.

You are totally right, but life in prision???? It isn't like they drowned the child in a bath tub.

[NameUsedBefore]

You are totally right, but life in prision???? It isn't like they drowned the child in a bath tub.


No you're right -- they starved it.


This is a prime example of why parents should keep their beliefs to themselves until their children are mature enough to make their own decisions - imo. Of course I know this isn't going to happen as every parents wants their kid to be politically, religiously, and any other ideology in line with theirs.

[evendelae]

You are totally right, but life in prision???? It isn't like they drowned the child in a bath tub.
It shouldn't be life, since it seems like they're more stupid than anything, but a few years in jail might help them to get their heads out of the clouds.

[Raiderfan76]

I think it's some form of this but it went to far..

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic322.htm




Incidence of Munchausen syndrome peaks in young–to–middle-aged adults, but it has been reported in patients of all ages (ie, childhood through advanced age).
Pediatric Munchausen syndrome is a different disease from Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP). MSBP is a syndrome in which an adult simulates or creates symptoms in a child to receive an ill-defined secondary gain from the child's hospitalization.
MSBP is child abuse and must be dealt with when it is suspected. Because of the dangerous nature of the varied means used to create factitious symptoms, the mortality rate is significant; estimates range from 5-50%. MBSP is currently a topic of intense interest and research, given its potentially dire prognosis for the children who are victims.

:2cents:

[redbirdy80]

Lemme at 'em! :fight:

[NickTranOwnz]

These people are terrible vegans and stupid ones at that.

All humans need amino acids that are all in animal products, but can also be obtained by eating a HUGE variety of plant foods. That's one mistake.

Another mistake is having the baby born at home.

And the last mistake (until I think of another) is that feeding a baby soy milk and apple juice doesn't cut it. Haven't they heard of baby food?!?!?!

[His Wife]

There's so much information 'left out' of that story. For example....

How old was the baby?

Was it premature?

Were the parents aware he was under nourished?

Lots of parents use soy formulas for their babies, as many
babies have lactose intolerance.

The story indicated the judge was prejudicial to vegetarians.

I feel really sorry for the baby, but on the surface from what this news article states, I think it was a bit of a witch hunt. To me, the parents sounded ignorant.

There are certain religions that do not believe in going to see doctors. Is this simply malice, or is it one of those gray areas where it's just hard for mainstream culture to relate and understand?

It's a sad, sad situation. Plus....what was the background of those two parents? The article left out so much important details for me to really make a conclusion. :sad:

[Saddletramp]

May Crown Shakur Rest in Peace.

[Peanut]

My cousin is vegetarian but she doesn't make her kids be vegetarian. She knows that as they grow they need the kind of nutrients that only a balanced diet can give.


I'm also a vegetarian. And I agree with your cousin. Growing children need a balanced diet (it wasn't until years later that I learned what a vitamin B12 deficiency could do).

It's sad that the baby had to pay for the stupidity of the parents.

[stnzed]

Gonna take a shot in the dark and say that the baby was a healthy birth weight, and while most babies gain...he lost!!! I would also guess that if they gave birth at home that they didn't have the baby to the doctor or hospital at all and used a mid-wife!!!

I just don't understand how people can become parents without a licence and passing a test...

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n144/cwolfraven/soapbox.gif


You've gotta have a licence to drive, a licence to hunt...Hell! You've gotta have a licence to fish!

But they'll let anyone be a parent.......

Btw, do ya'll think these two will be fed vegan food in prison?

I'm not making a joke....I think it would be a good thing that a small part of their suffering is that they will no longer be able to follow their beliefs that caused this tragedy in the first place.

Just my opinion!

[NickTranOwnz]

You've gotta have a licence to drive, a licence to hunt...Hell! You've gotta have a licence to fish!

But they'll let anyone be a parent.......

Btw, do ya'll think these two will be fed vegan food in prison?

I'm not making a joke....I think it would be a good thing that a small part of their suffering is that they will no longer be able to follow their beliefs that caused this tragedy in the first place.

Just my opinion!

Have them die in prison like how their baby died.

[His Wife]

http://criminal.lawyers.com/news-headline/Jury:-Baby-murdered-by-vegan-parents--Guilty-verdict...-l:607132271.html

This article I think gives a slightly different view. ???

[dandaman23]

Wow. Sad story..Ya know, I dont mean to diss anyone that is a vegetarian or anything, but I dont understand why people are vegetarians..Can someone explain to me that is a vegetarian what the benefits of being one is, becuase I just dont understand why people would choose not to eat meat..Is it because you dont believe in killing animals or what? And again I dont mean to be offensive about it, just want to know more of why you guys are what you are.. :confused:

[Kapaibro]

There's so much information 'left out' of that story. For example....

How old was the baby?

Was it premature?

Were the parents aware he was under nourished?

Lots of parents use soy formulas for their babies, as many
babies have lactose intolerance.

The story indicated the judge was prejudicial to vegetarians.

I feel really sorry for the baby, but on the surface from what this news article states, I think it was a bit of a witch hunt. To me, the parents sounded ignorant.

There are certain religions that do not believe in going to see doctors. Is this simply malice, or is it one of those gray areas where it's just hard for mainstream culture to relate and understand?

It's a sad, sad situation. Plus....what was the background of those two parents? The article left out so much important details for me to really make a conclusion. :sad:

Ignorance is no excuse for what they did.

Why the hell wasn't the baby given breast milk???

And from that other article

jurors believed prosecutors' assertions that the couple intentionally neglected and underfed the child and then tried to use the lifestyle as a shield.

The infant was born in the bathtub of a Buckhead apartment, but never taken to a doctor. The 6-week-old was dead when his parents took him to Piedmont Hospital, across the street from their apartment, on April 25, 2004. He weighed 3 1/2 pounds and was so emaciated that doctors could count his bones through his skin.

The Atlanta mother, Jade Sanders, 27, initially told police she fed her baby organic apple juice and soy milk. But the soy milk containers in her Buckhead apartment clearly state that soy milk is not to be used as a substitute for baby formula, her lawyer admitted.

At trial, the mother said she also fed her son breast milk and soy milk formula.

Outside the courtroom, Lewis said he believes the parents unintentionally starved their child by giving him apple juice, which worked as a diuretic and blocked the absorption of nutrients from the soy milk, soy formula and breast milk. They never took Crown to a doctor because they feared hospitals were infested with germs, he said.

At trial, government witness and vegan expert Amy Lanou told jurors the child's health may have been compromised by his diet, but he still should have been alive if fed enough food.

[Fred the Bunny]

Vegan or not, the dumb ass could have breast fed her baby.

[Peanut]

Wow. Sad story..Ya know, I dont mean to diss anyone that is a vegetarian or anything, but I dont understand why people are vegetarians..Can someone explain to me that is a vegetarian what the benefits of being one is, becuase I just dont understand why people would choose not to eat meat..Is it because you dont believe in killing animals or what? And again I dont mean to be offensive about it, just want to know more of why you guys are what you are.. :confused:


I've been a vegetarian for many, many years. I started to connect the live animal to what was on my plate. It got to the point where I just couldn't eat meat anymore (I never was a big meat-eater).

I have never tried to convert anyone. My family are meat-eaters (and proud of it :) ). I cook for them. I do have a problem with sticking my hands into ground beef, even with gloves on. My husband kindly makes the hamburger patties. I don't agree with most things that PETA does. I mention this just to let you know that I'm not in with that group.

The benefits? Some would say that it's healthier. Some would say that it makes them more peaceful/less aggressive (I read once that Hitler was a vegetarian).

I became a vegetarian because I didn't want to eat meat anymore. Sorry no profound revelation here.

[Jermz79]

I just don't understand how people can become parents without a licence and passing a test...


AMEN!!!! :salute:

CP for you!!

[shanniefly]

HW...I agree that there is always more to the story, but in this...I found all the information I needed to see!!! There are classes and books out there for people to learn how to take care of their children...free help!!!

There is no dang excuse for any parent that is over the age of 21 not to take the initative to learn the things they need to know...if they are responsible enough to have the baby...then they can take that effort to assure that they are doing the best by that baby!!!

It isn't like there is nothing out there for Vegan parents or they were the first ever...I'm sure I could find a million books and websites for it...the only excuse is that they were lazy and neglegted their responsibilities as parents!!!

I still stand by my need a licence and pass a test...because I am so tired of knowing that there are people out there that want to have babies and would be amazing caring parents, but can't have children, and then there are those out there that see being a parent as a burden, and do not take it seriously...

[maruske845]

its sad for the baby dieing


but helps me say that vegans/veggie ppl are stupid IMO

"I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain just to eat leaves!"
hahaha. :D

I don't really think your dumb, i just don't agree with it, I enjoy meat.

[Broncomania96]

I think they are crazy and shouldnt even be allowed to have kids

[Peanut]

its sad for the baby dieing


but helps me say that vegans/veggie ppl are stupid IMO

"I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain just to eat leaves!"
hahaha. :D

I don't really think your dumb, i just don't agree with it, I enjoy meat.


I'm glad you really don't think I'm dumb. I really enjoy not eating meat. :P :D

[Broncomania96]

It was probably the same judge that sentened Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail

[Booher]

You are totally right, but life in prision???? It isn't like they drowned the child in a bath tub.

Why not?.....be responsible for your actions.

[xX-Bronco-Xx]

It was probably the same judge that sentened Paris Hilton to 45 days in jail
That judge deserves a Nobel prize.

[His Wife]

Ignorance is no excuse for what they did.

Why the hell wasn't the baby given breast milk???

And from that other article

Well, like I said Kap, millions of parents feed their children 'soy' milk formulas. I was not one of them, but there are plenty that do.

I guess when I read this article, I felt like it was a tragedy for the parents along with the baby, because there are ignorant people out there who are not 'murderers' or had no intention of murdering.

I have to wonder why no one else reported the baby was sickly looking, as when you have a baby......lots of visitors want to see the baby and hold it.

You're talking to a mom who was and remains very serious about keeping my baby and then later, my kid, healthy, but I just think with this couple, it doesn't quite add up to being monsters. I guess I'm just not ready to come to any conclusions yet.

[darrent/hero]

man. poor kid. what terrible parents. creeps. weirdos. freaks.

[saltybuggah]

Well, like I said Kap, millions of parents feed their children 'soy' milk formulas. I was not one of them, but there are plenty that do.

I guess when I read this article, I felt like it was a tragedy for the parents along with the baby, because there are ignorant people out there who are not 'murderers' or had no intention of murdering.

I have to wonder why no one else reported the baby was sickly looking, as when you have a baby......lots of visitors want to see the baby and hold it.

You're talking to a mom who was and remains very serious about keeping my baby and then later, my kid, healthy, but I just think with this couple, it doesn't quite add up to being monsters. I guess I'm just not ready to come to any conclusions yet.


thanks for the other links btw

i just cant see the parents not knowing their child is slowly dying in front of their eyes.
ive read the other article and imo it just proves that these so called parents killed their baby.
the hospital being across the street is just sad. sure they could say that they think its germ infested but what about going outside, money, or inside their own apartment building. that seems like an excuse they are making.

the so called parents can say all they want about thinking the hospital's dirty and has germs. how come's they didnt look for other resources? they are not the only vegan couple on teh face of the earth that has had children.

i dont think the so called parents are monsters just murderers, that should get life in prison. im sure their crown was crying all the time because he was hungry.

its sad to even think that they changed crown's diapers, gave him baths, and held him in their arms when he was so frail and fragile. the first of many clues that something was going wrong with their child would be seeing all his bones sticking out and being able to count em.

to answer your other q. the parents could easily cover the child up with cloths and show him to friends and family, i guess. that's what children who are beatin by their parents do.

[Chica_Ang]

“I loved my son — and I did not starve him,” she said.
Their lifestyle was more important to them than the well being of their baby.

and I agree Fred hunnyBunny, she could and should have breast fed. very sad.

[Kapaibro]

There are plenty of soy formulas out there suitable for babies, but the fact that the one they used clearly stated that it was not suitable for babies makes them not just ignorant by murderers.