Vegan Parents Accused of Nearly Starving Baby to Death

Overview

• Incident involving a vegan couple from Florida accused of nearly starving their 5-month-old son.
• Parents: Julia French (20) and Robert Buskey (31).
• Charged with neglect after child was found severely malnourished.

Key Details

• Initial baby weight at birth: 3.5 kg.
• At time of discovery, baby weighed just under 4 kg.
• Symptoms included visible ribs and sunken eyes.

Feeding Practices

• Original doctor-prescribed formula was organic and suitable for vegan lifestyle.
• Parents switched to a potato-based meal found online against medical advice.
• Parents could afford the prescribed formula but didn't provide a reason for the switch.

Religious Beliefs

• Couple follows "Nazarite Hebrew" religious principles.
• Woman identifies as the man's concubine.

Legal and Health Outcomes

• Baby is now in foster care.
• Gained half a pound on fluids alone since being removed from parents.
• Previously lethargic, not crying, with difficulty maintaining temperature and sugar levels.

Additional Information

• Authorities found the situation dire, with Detective Lauren Watson noting the baby was close to possible death.
• The incident highlights the risks of deviating from medically advised nutrition, particularly for infants.