The vegan mother was convicted of starving her baby for 18 months, feeding only raw vegetables and fruits.
Sheila O’Leary, 38, was convicted of a single murder and child abuse when her 18-month-old son died in 2019.
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Closing arguments for O’Leary’s trial began early Tuesday, and the jury began deliberations shortly after noon.
Francine Donormo, head of the Special Victims Unit at the Florida Law Firm, said O’Leary was unable to provide proper diet and health care to her son Ezra.
“She chose to kill her child,” said Donnorummo.
“Her pride has sacrificed Ezra’s life. It is recklessly ignoring human life.”
Lee Hollander, O’Leary’s defense counsel, showed the jury several photos of O’Leary with his son.
“Does it look like a mom wanting to kill her child?” I asked.
“Just because it happened doesn’t mean she committed a crime.”
The state is reportedly happy with the verdict, but Hollander said it was a disappointing result.
“I thought we had a dispute, but after that, the jury had been in court for three and a half hours, so they weren’t rushed to a decision,” Hollander said.
O’Leary will be sentenced in July.
The boy’s father, Ryan Patrick O’Leary, 33, has been charged with similar charges and is awaiting trial.
The couple have remained in Lee County Jail since they were arrested.
When she died in September 2019, her baby Ezra weighed only 17 pounds. His parents noticed that he wasn’t breathing and told officers that the family ate only raw fruits and vegetables and followed a strict vegan diet.
Sheila O’Leary said Ezra was also breastfed, but autopsy revealed that the cause of death in the boy was due to malnutrition-related complications.
State lawyer Amira Fox said the couple also abused and ignored three other children who were 3, 5, and 11 at the time of Ezra’s death.
She states:
“These are images of a mother and state lawyer that I can’t forget.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should take a “whole meal approach” and eat a combination of vegetables, fruits, grains, low-fat dairy products, and high-quality protein sources.
However, if properly planned and given supplemental nutrients, a vegan diet is suitable for children.
O’Learys have been charged with one murder, exacerbated child abuse, exacerbated abuse, child abuse, and two child neglects.
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