Vegan couple found guilty of killing their baby through a soy-only diet
Filed under: Nutrition: Health, Development/Milestones: Babies
Jade Sanders and Lamont Thomas are vegans, and they wanted to raise the infant born in their home under the strict principles of veganism. Sanders and Thomas must have skipped class the day they taught breastfeeding at hippie school, because their infant subsisted mostly on a diet of soy milk and apple juice for the first six weeks of his short life. When the infant died, he weighed just 3.5 pounds, and his parents were arrested on charges of murder and cruelty to children. Their defense lawyers argued that Sanders and Thomas were first time parents who "did the best they could while adhering to the vegan lifestyle." Lawyers also argued that Sanders and Thomas did not realize their tiny son was unhealthy or in any physical danger until minutes before he died.
Prosecutors didn't buy the ignorant hippie-dippy defense. He told jurors during Tuesday's closing arguments: "They're not vegans. They're baby killers!" After seven hours of deliberation, the fates of these two vegan parents were decided: guilty, and both face automatic life sentences. So Sanders and Thomas can spend the rest of their lives complaining about how difficult it is to maintain a vegan lifestyle in state prison. Thomas, I'm sure, will at least get the chance to toss a lot of salads.
Prosecutors didn't buy the ignorant hippie-dippy defense. He told jurors during Tuesday's closing arguments: "They're not vegans. They're baby killers!" After seven hours of deliberation, the fates of these two vegan parents were decided: guilty, and both face automatic life sentences. So Sanders and Thomas can spend the rest of their lives complaining about how difficult it is to maintain a vegan lifestyle in state prison. Thomas, I'm sure, will at least get the chance to toss a lot of salads.












ReaderComments (Page 2 of 2)
5-10-2007 @ 3:36AM
David said...WOW >>>> Life imprisonment for someone who isn't a threat to society. ONLY in Georgia. Then, of course, the defendents are black. And we know the racist history of Georgia and its courts....
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5-10-2007 @ 10:41AM
Shannon said...Wow, yeah I suppose that baby-killing isn't considered threatening anymore huh?
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5-10-2007 @ 9:31PM
terrymcfalls said...a damn primate would know better,hope their ignorant asses rot in jail.
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5-10-2007 @ 9:42PM
terrymcfalls said...spend money,we have spent billions on losers like them ,and for what,they live like animals,breed like animals,dont take care of their kids,they have ruined every major city in america,do us a favor,take a few home to england,please ,but then your cities are just as bad as ours and as for health care the poor get it free and working americans pick up the bill,your right,most whites cant stand them,so what.
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5-10-2007 @ 10:54PM
Ryan said...Vegans who actually know what they are doing raise children that grow taller, stronger and smarter than the average kid taught to beleive that suckin on another species milk is OK. Did she not breastfeed her child?!?! what the hell. To bad so many bloggers like this cant see that and they help to put a bad label to people who eat vegan by sarcastic uninformed articles like this.
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5-10-2007 @ 10:59PM
dutch said...I never said they were good vetans, ryan.
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5-11-2007 @ 1:04PM
lindsey said...It truly sickens me that so many people don't breastfeed. I can understand that some people can't for whatever reason, but if you go to a lactation specialist and have a desire to do the best thing for your baby then you can. It's called relaxing with your baby and bonding.
The only thing that comforts me with this case is that God will deal very harshly with these idiots. The sentence wasn't harsh enough, in my opinion. Race doesn't determine how stupid you are. I had read many articles previous to this one and race wasn't mentioned until now. My opinion on the sentence stayed the same. I believe that ANYONE who kills a child (intentional or negligent) should not live. Abuse of a child is one of the most horrible things you can do. And this child in no way consented to living this vegan diet. These people are truly Dee Dee Dee's!
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5-11-2007 @ 5:30PM
barb said...after being a child raised in the system....the parents arent the only ones to blame blame the system also. it is not a black versus white issue. i came from a white family dirt poor and the system was informed of the problems. one family alone called in complaints more than 17 times. not to mention grand parents schools and other neighbors. the system ignored the complpaints for 6 years. they were finally acknoledged after my baby siter died. my parent recieved 9 years a piece. they served 41/2 and 51/2 years on a man one crime. while they were recieving 3 hots and a cot we were shuffled from foster home to foster home. at one foster home i was molested. does any one know the details of this case or just believing what they read on this page. the parents are to blame but they may not. be the only ones and as for terrmcgfalls, learn more about it before you show your ignorrance. there just might be more there than meets the eye. how do you know that the investigation was up to par......how do you know if the parents had regular check ups for the child. for all you know the doctor could be partially blamed....... yeah some people should not have children, but some people need more education than others. if you have a problem with my thoughts let me know...but you better remember one thing. i have walk in this familys shoes as a small child.....have you.
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5-11-2007 @ 5:13PM
barb said...ryan i appreciate you comment about the ignorance thank you for realizing that there is more than meets the eye here
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5-12-2007 @ 5:49PM
barb said...michelle i think you are showing your ignorance in the ways of the world.....you dont have to be poor to have cps step in at a proper time. and you obviously didnt read my whole comment. my little sister was 38 days ld when she died. she weighed less at the time of death then she did at birth... she had a healthy birth weight. in fact she was over seven pounds. so get all your facts before you start running you mouth about class having anything to do with abuse.
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5-12-2007 @ 5:58PM
barb said...jess sometime like i just told michelle...class has nothing to do with abuse......the resources are there.. people refuse to use them because of foolish pride. im not much better off than my parents were.... difference is i refuse to be in a position that i cant take care of my family.... i am a well educated woman who is having a hard time but because i love my family i do what it takes to take care of them...even if it means i have to use state assistance for a while to get them proper medical care and nutritious not junk but nutrious meals. i am still continuing my education and working on opening my own business..because i refuse to have anyone else raising my children..... i have a degree in child development and working on opening a home daycare. but in the mean time i am stuggling....but i know what resources are available because i have looked into it and researched where the are...... this is america and we all have the same rights and access to materials and resources...... there is no excuse for ignorance in this country....im living proof. there does need to be improvements in the system i will give you that, but if you ask the questions the answers are there.
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5-14-2007 @ 2:29AM
barb said...yes jess you would think so but first before the do that they have to raise the standards of quality in the social workers. most social workers barely have a high school education though the federal regulations require so mmuch more.... it is sad that they are legally required to have it but it is not made manditory in all workers......
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6-17-2007 @ 10:39PM
Jess said...Sorry had to repost my comment as it appears to have been removed. Jess.
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6-17-2007 @ 10:55PM
Jess said..."...they live like animals,breed like animals,dont take care of their kids,they have ruined every major city in america..." No it is ignorance demostrated so well by your comments that have ruined America. The greatest threat to America is greed, racism and selfishness. Your only hope is to start from the ground up providing everyone with the best care and education you can give. Otherwise you will continue your downward spiral and risk a massive social and economic collapse.
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