Revy
27th January 2010, 09:32
sickening...
(http://www.seattlepi.com/local/414685_starve26.html)
Charge: Parents didn't want 'fat' baby, so they starved her
Accused of starving their newborn daughter to the point of emaciation, a Bellevue couple now faces felony charges on allegations they were more worried about their infant's appearance than her health.
In charging documents, King County prosecutors contend Brittainy and Samuel Labberton continued trying to force the child to lose weight months after the girl had been pulled from their home.
Following a visit with the Labbertons in January 2009, the infant's foster parents found that the then-5-month-old girl had been returned with a bottle that "smelled very fishy," according to charging documents. Testing of the bottle, a pediatrician determined the bottle was likely filled with a laxative -- a frequently used weight-loss technique.
Bellevue police were first notified of the neglect in May, seven months after child welfare officials removed the girl from her parents. Charges followed earlier this month.
Child welfare workers had pulled the girl from the Labbertons' home weeks after she was born, Bellevue police Detective Ellen Inman said in court documents. But police had not been told of neglect allegations until the child's foster mother contacted them.
Reviewing child welfare reports and medical records, it became clear that the girl was underweight when she was born, Inman said in court documents.
Emaciated at birth, the infant needed to be fed every few hours during her first weeks, Inman said. Though they were given those instructions, the Labbertons allegedly failed to do so and the girl was returned Seattle Children's Hospital less than two months after she was born.
Questioned by hospital staff and Department of Social and Health Services investigators, the couple allegedly blamed the girl's weight loss on stress in the home and "the fact that (she) was fussy and threw up her food."
Despite their claims, the girl thrived while hospitalized and immediately began putting on weight, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor told the court. Told of her child's progress, Brittainy Labberton was not pleased.
"Instead, Brittainy complained, 'Oh my God she's fat' and 'I have a fat baby,'" Spoor stated, recounting the December 2008 interview. "Brittainy insisted that (the girl) should be under the 50th percentile in weight, not over it.
"She indicated that her husband has a weight problem and she does not want her girls to be fat."
Spoor told the court social services workers took custody of the couple's other child, a two-year-old girl, the following day after Brittainy Labberton said she felt she would kill herself and the child. Arriving at the foster home, the older girl was "ravenously hungry," eating so fast that she nearly choked on her food.
Contacted by police in August, the mother appeared emaciated herself, Spoor said. Standing 5-foot-5, the 21-year-old weighed 90 pounds.
"Brittainy expressed no remorse for not feeding the baby and admitted to hardly feeding (the infant) for many days," Spoor said. "She also indicated she wanted to have 12 children."
Allowed to see the girl three times a week since she was removed from the home, Brittainy Labberton described her daughter as "very fat and overfed," Inman said. The detective added that the woman believed her daughter was much healthier before she was pulled from the home.
Samuel Labberton, 24, complained to detectives that his 9-month-old daughter had "gained so much weight that now she is fat," according to court documents. He remained convinced he and his wife had behaved appropriately.
"Samuel told me that he would not change anything if he could go back," Inman said. "He does not believe that he and Brittainy did anything wrong."
In court filings, Inman noted that Brittainy Labberton was diagnosed with postpartum depression with psychotic tendencies following her second daughter's birth.
"Brittainy had thoughts about harming herself and her children," Inman said in court documents. "Brittainy was prescribed medication to help control these thoughts and feelings … but had a severe reaction to it."
The mother refused to feed the girl even as she cried for food, Inman said. All the while, the officer added, Samuel Labberton lived in the home and failed to feed the child.
Charged with third-degree criminal mistreatment, the Labbertons are scheduled to be arraigned Monday in King County Superior Court, said Dan Donohoe, a prosecutor's office spokesman. Neither is currently in custody.
(http://www.seattlepi.com/local/414685_starve26.html)
Charge: Parents didn't want 'fat' baby, so they starved her
Accused of starving their newborn daughter to the point of emaciation, a Bellevue couple now faces felony charges on allegations they were more worried about their infant's appearance than her health.
In charging documents, King County prosecutors contend Brittainy and Samuel Labberton continued trying to force the child to lose weight months after the girl had been pulled from their home.
Following a visit with the Labbertons in January 2009, the infant's foster parents found that the then-5-month-old girl had been returned with a bottle that "smelled very fishy," according to charging documents. Testing of the bottle, a pediatrician determined the bottle was likely filled with a laxative -- a frequently used weight-loss technique.
Bellevue police were first notified of the neglect in May, seven months after child welfare officials removed the girl from her parents. Charges followed earlier this month.
Child welfare workers had pulled the girl from the Labbertons' home weeks after she was born, Bellevue police Detective Ellen Inman said in court documents. But police had not been told of neglect allegations until the child's foster mother contacted them.
Reviewing child welfare reports and medical records, it became clear that the girl was underweight when she was born, Inman said in court documents.
Emaciated at birth, the infant needed to be fed every few hours during her first weeks, Inman said. Though they were given those instructions, the Labbertons allegedly failed to do so and the girl was returned Seattle Children's Hospital less than two months after she was born.
Questioned by hospital staff and Department of Social and Health Services investigators, the couple allegedly blamed the girl's weight loss on stress in the home and "the fact that (she) was fussy and threw up her food."
Despite their claims, the girl thrived while hospitalized and immediately began putting on weight, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor told the court. Told of her child's progress, Brittainy Labberton was not pleased.
"Instead, Brittainy complained, 'Oh my God she's fat' and 'I have a fat baby,'" Spoor stated, recounting the December 2008 interview. "Brittainy insisted that (the girl) should be under the 50th percentile in weight, not over it.
"She indicated that her husband has a weight problem and she does not want her girls to be fat."
Spoor told the court social services workers took custody of the couple's other child, a two-year-old girl, the following day after Brittainy Labberton said she felt she would kill herself and the child. Arriving at the foster home, the older girl was "ravenously hungry," eating so fast that she nearly choked on her food.
Contacted by police in August, the mother appeared emaciated herself, Spoor said. Standing 5-foot-5, the 21-year-old weighed 90 pounds.
"Brittainy expressed no remorse for not feeding the baby and admitted to hardly feeding (the infant) for many days," Spoor said. "She also indicated she wanted to have 12 children."
Allowed to see the girl three times a week since she was removed from the home, Brittainy Labberton described her daughter as "very fat and overfed," Inman said. The detective added that the woman believed her daughter was much healthier before she was pulled from the home.
Samuel Labberton, 24, complained to detectives that his 9-month-old daughter had "gained so much weight that now she is fat," according to court documents. He remained convinced he and his wife had behaved appropriately.
"Samuel told me that he would not change anything if he could go back," Inman said. "He does not believe that he and Brittainy did anything wrong."
In court filings, Inman noted that Brittainy Labberton was diagnosed with postpartum depression with psychotic tendencies following her second daughter's birth.
"Brittainy had thoughts about harming herself and her children," Inman said in court documents. "Brittainy was prescribed medication to help control these thoughts and feelings … but had a severe reaction to it."
The mother refused to feed the girl even as she cried for food, Inman said. All the while, the officer added, Samuel Labberton lived in the home and failed to feed the child.
Charged with third-degree criminal mistreatment, the Labbertons are scheduled to be arraigned Monday in King County Superior Court, said Dan Donohoe, a prosecutor's office spokesman. Neither is currently in custody.