A vegan mother has been convicted of starving her 18-month-old son to death by feeding him raw vegetables and fruits.
Sheila O’Leary, 39, was convicted by a jury on Wednesday of murder in connection with child abuse charges she faced in the death of her toddler Ezra O’Leary in September 2019, according to the Fort Myers News Press .
Ezra weighed just 17 pounds, which is seven pounds less than the average for his age, when his parents found he had stopped breathing.
“This child did not eat. He was starved in 18 months, ”said Francine Donnorummo, head of the special victims unit at the state attorney’s office.
Sheila and her husband, Ryan O’Leary, told police that Ezra had a strict vegan diet but was also breastfed. Ezra did not eat for about a week before she died and struggled to sleep, they said.
“She made choices that killed her child,” Donnorummo said.
“Her pride cost Ezra his life. It is a reckless contempt for human life. ‘
An autopsy report found that Ezra died from complications related to malnutrition.
Prosecutors accused Sheila of failing to seek medical care for Ezra when she realized he was ill.
“She chose to disregard his cries,” Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller, who co-prosecuted the case, said during closing arguments.
“She did not need a scale to see his legs. She did not need a scale to hear her cry. ‘
When Ezra died, the O’Learys also neglected their three other children, all of whom are 11 years old, according to prosecutors.
“We’re here because their kids are so hungry that the youngest are starving to death,” Miller said.
Sheila, of Cape Coral,’s sentencing hearing is set for July 25.
Ryan, who is in Lee County Jail, will stand trial on the same charges Sheila faced.
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