A Florida mother has been found guilty of murder for starving her child to death with a vegan diet!
The 39-year-old woman was convicted of killing her 18-month-old child in 2019 by feeding him a diet consisting of only raw fruit, vegetables, and breast milk.
The mother, Shelia O’ Leary, was found guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter, child abuse, and two counts of child neglect.
The deceased son, Ezra, weighed only 17 pounds – seven pounds below average for his age – when he died in his sleep.
O’ Leary and her husband, Ryan — who will stand trial separately on the same charges as his wife — said the family followed a vegan diet of “only raw fruits and vegetables” and “breast milk,” according to court reports.
When Ezra died, the couple’s three other children, all under the age of 11, were all also suffering from malnutrition and dehydration.
Detectives were told by O’ Leary that Ezra didn’t eat for a week and was “having trouble sleeping the night prior to his death.”
Prosecutor Francine Donnorummo told the court in Lee County, FL, that O’Leary failed to provide the child’s food and health care.
“This was a thought-out, planned course of action,” Donnorummo said. “Ignorance is not a defense in this case.”
Co-prosecutor Sara Miller told the jury in her closing arguments that the real crime was that O’Leary refused to get her child medical help.
“She chose to disregard Ezra’s suffering,” Miller said.
O’Leary could face life in prison when she is sentenced later this month. Her husband is awaiting trial on the same charges and will likely be found guilty as well.
Lots of people in this world think vegan diet is good for life. In many countries people suffer from all kinds of diseases not even knowing that they are under nourished. Many regions teach people not to eat anything grown underground like onion, garlic ginger potatoes and so many other veggies. Their brain does not develop neither their physicality. They die at young age.