Vegan Couple Gets Life in Prison After Baby Dies of Starvation

[Zoneboy]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,270961,00.html

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."

[TripperFan]

My sister-in-law is a vegan. I don't understand - she's quite large.

She started her kids on it and they're so skinny, that my 13 yr old nephew's chest is actually concave! I could brain her sometimes with the diet she eats and gives them.

They can miss meals, but are still allowed to eat chocolate bars and chips galore.

If you're an adult and want to go vegan fine, but in my opinion, growing kids need a good, well-rounded balanced diet.

(meanwhile, soy milk isn't great - it's almond milk that's good and apple juice? Why not feed the kid liquid sugar - it's about the same) No wonder the poor thing died.

[catlover79]

[Penny Lane]

It seems as though this vegan couple wanted to do things the "natural" way like home birth, etc. Well this baby was only 6 weeks old. Why wasn't she breast feeding the baby? They sound like a couple of idiots to me!

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

It seems as though this vegan couple wanted to do things the "natural" way like home birth, etc. Well this baby was only 6 weeks old. Why wasn't she breast feeding the baby? They sound like a couple of idiots to me!

Guess they don't make "hemp" nursing bras!!

[Penny Lane]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Guess they don't make "hemp" nursing bras!!

Guess not!

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

(meanwhile, soy milk isn't great - it's almond milk that's good and apple juice? Why not feed the kid liquid sugar - it's about the same) No wonder the poor thing died.

There's nothing wrong with soy milk unless you don't like the taste. I love the stuff and can drink it by the gallon, Especially the chocolate flavor. It's also great on cereal and is a perfect substitute for any recipe that uses cow milk. I haven't tried almond milk yet but I might do that next time I go to the health food store.


Every brand of soy milk I've ever purchased clearly states that it is not to be used as an infant formula & I believe this couple may have done that. A six week old child has no business drinking it and should be on formula and/or breast milk. In regards to apple juice, If they gave him the store bought crap then I agree with what you said about the liquid sugar but freshly extracted apple juice is fine if given in moderation.

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

There's nothing wrong with soy milk unless you don't like the taste. I love the stuff and can drink it by the gallon, Especially the chocolate flavor. It's also great on cereal and is a perfect substitute for any recipe that uses cow milk. I haven't tried almond milk yet but I might do that next time I go to the health food store.


Every brand of soy milk I've ever purchased clearly states that it is not to be used as an infant formula & I believe this couple may have done that. A six week old child has no business drinking it and should be on formula and/or breast milk. In regards to apple juice, If they gave him the store bought crap then I agree with what you said about the liquid sugar but freshly extracted apple juice is fine if given in moderation.

(yeah how vegan can they be if they're buying the regular store bought apple juice too?)


Sorry - didn't mean to say that soy was bad, but as you say, it isn't good as an infant formula. I'll try to find the info and again and post, but Almond is superior than soy and especially cow or goat milk. It's got tons of calcium (recent studies have shown that cow's milk actually depletes calcium) and less calories than soy milk even.
Not sure if you get it in the US (probably do tho) but Blue Diamond puts it out (same tetra cartons as soy). It's called Almond Breeze and comes in original, vanilla and chocolate too. I don't find it quite as sweet as soy and is has a nice, slight almond flavour. You can even make your own at home.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Sorry - didn't mean to say that soy was bad, but as you say, it isn't good as an infant formula. I'll try to find the info and again and post, but Almond is superior than soy and especially cow or goat milk. It's got tons of calcium (recent studies have shown that cow's milk actually depletes calcium) and less calories than soy milk even.
Not sure if you get it in the US (probably do tho) but Blue Diamond puts it out (same tetra cartons as soy). It's called Almond Breeze and comes in original, vanilla and chocolate too. I don't find it quite as sweet as soy and is has a nice, slight almond flavour. You can even make your own at home.

Please do because I'd be very interested in reading about it. They do have almond breeze around here but they charge about $4 for a quart which is one reason I haven't bought it. I guess buying it once in awhile won't hurt my wallet. I also like the idea of making it yourself which would no doubt be much cheaper in the long run.

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Please do because I'd be very interested in reading about it. They do have almond breeze around here but they charge about $4 for a quart which is one reason I haven't bought it. I guess buying it once in awhile won't hurt my wallet. I also like the idea of making it yourself which would no doubt be much cheaper in the long run.

NUTS! (no pun intended!) I wish I could find the graph I found a few months back, but these links should still help you out. If you want more info, just google "almond soy rice cow's milk comparisons" etc. and there's tons of info. There's one chart in the last link here that I don't understand. Everything I've seen on almond says it's loaded with calcium (although low in protein - which again, strikes me odd since nuts are supposed to be a high protein source). At any rate, have a look over and see what you think. Funny how some people think almond is sweeter or more watery than soy and other's say the opposite. I've never tried rice, but I do like almond over soy. Lot's of recipes to make your own also.
I think you might be going to a healthfood store with the price you mention. It's like that in Canada too, my healthfood store carries it for close to $4, but I can get it at my regular grocery store in the healthfood section for $2.29 - sometimes even as low as $1.89 if it's on sale. You do need to shop around a bit.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art..._soy_milk.html


http://www.dolenutrition.com/article...aspx?RecId=141



http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_bl...lthy-2288.aspx

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/0...lk_for_you.htm

[Zoneboy]

Thanks and you are right, That is what the health food store charges. I don't recall seeing it the grocery stores but we have several so one of them should have it and 1.89 - 2.29 sounds alot better.

[dawsongirl]

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

It seems as though this vegan couple wanted to do things the "natural" way like home birth, etc. Well this baby was only 6 weeks old. Why wasn't she breast feeding the baby? They sound like a couple of idiots to me!

Ha...good point.

These people deserve jail time just for being worthless humans.

[Mr. Television]

Some people shouldn't be parents.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by _Jen_

That's terrible. It's not developmentally appropriate to give an infant who is only 6 weeks old apple juice. At that stage of development the baby isn't physically mature enough to handle apple juice or any other juice. Juice isn't supposed to be introduced into the infant's diet until a minimum of 4 to 6 months of age.

Thanks for the info, I didn't think a small amount would be bad for a child that age but I can see your point and it makes perfect sense.

[Penny Lane]

That poor baby probably had major bellyaches. Apple juice,unless it is processed for babies , fed to an an infant so young, is very hard on the stomach.

Soy milk is used as a substitute for breast milk if a baby is allergic to milk.