On Monday, a Florida vegan lady who starved her 18-month-old son to death was given a life sentence in jail.
According to NBC News, Sheila O’Leary, 38, insisted her family adhere to a strict vegan diet. O’Leary said that her family strictly consumes only uncooked fruits and vegetables. Investigators were told by her husband, Ryan Patrick O’Leary, that his baby son also drank breast milk.
The Cape Coral couple’s 18-month-old son, Ezra O’Leary, passed away on September 27, 2019. According to the police, the infant was just 17 pounds when it died. When he passed away, Ezra’s size was estimated by authorities to be that of a 7-month-old baby.
According to the prosecution, poor starvation and dehydration were factors in infant Ezra’s death.
This youngster didn’t eat. Francine Donnorummo, the head of the special victims section at the Lee County State Attorney’s Office, testified during the trial that the victim was starved to death over the course of 18 months.
Two further children of the vegan mother and her husband, Ryan O’Leary, who are 3 and 5 years old, were likewise underweight, according to the police. According to the State Attorney Amira Fox’s office, the two kids also experienced severe neglect and abuse. O’Leary has been told not to speak to them at all.
According to Virginia court documents, O’Leary has a fourth kid who was mandated to go back to the original father due to nutritional problems.
On Dec. 18. In Lee County, Florida, a grand jury indicted Sheila and Ryan in 2019.
On six counts, including first-degree murder, severe child abuse, severe manslaughter, child abuse, and two counts of neglect of a child, Sheila O’Leary was found guilty in June. O’Leary was given two concurrent terms of 30 years for serious child abuse and aggravated manslaughter of a child as well as an extra five years for child abuse and child neglect.
Hollander announced that he wants to challenge the verdict and have a new trial.
In custody and awaiting trial on the same accusations as his wife is 33-year-old Ryan O’Leary.
