Parents charged with starving baby to death
November 05, 2009 00:33 AM
Lakeland, Florida - Although born prematurely, Chauntasia Gardner left the hospital fat and sassy. But when EMS crews and deputies came to her home in Lakeland on Sunday, what they found shook them to their core.
Chauntasia was dead. She'd been starved to death.
"I don't think you can imagine what EMS crews and deputies saw Sunday morning," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. He described crime scene photos of the baby as "horrific."
The baby's parents, 25-year-old Tivasha Logan and 27-year-old Chauncey Gardner, had their first appearance in court Tuesday. They are charged with murder and aggravated child abuse. They are being held in jail without bond.
Click here to read the arrest affidavits. (PDF)
According to the Sheriff, the couple has showed no emotion, except surprise that they were arrested. "Both... are in total denial," says Judd.
Back in the family's Lakeland neighborhood, people can't understand how this happened. When found, the 5-month-old weighed about six pounds, less than half the weight of an average baby the same age.
In the family's Lakeland neighborhood, people can't understand how this happened. Several said they knew there was a baby in the house, but never saw it.
p. 1/2
> Next Page
- Young man shot and killed at Clearwater apartment parking lot
- Bulls lose first game, 69-66, to USC
Copyright (c) 2009
10connects.com
