An infant was found dead in her car seat in a Florida restaurant parking lot in December.
The child had lost more than one-third of her body weight in the 22 days since she was born, a medical examiner testified Friday.
From the Associated Press: Betsey Kee Stephens died as a result of malnutrition and starvation, said Dr. Vera Volnikh, Polk County’s assistant medical examiner. “When we examined her stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, all of them were empty,” Volnikh said. “There was no fat tissue on this baby.”
From Examiner:
Ruby, the baby’s mother, and Roy, who is not the biological father, were allegedly eating up the buffet inside of a Golden Corral restaurant while Betsey was left in her carseat, inside of a vehicle.
At birth, Betsey weighed over six pounds. At death, she weighed just an ounce over four pounds. Her weight should have been closer to seven to eight pounds. Investigators estimate that she had been dead for approximately three hours before EMTs were even called.
Officials said Betsey was dead for over three hours before 911 was called.
Betsey was pronounced dead on Dec. 23. Her mother, 23-year-old Ruby Stephens, along with 48-year-old Roy Stephens have been charged with 1st-degree murder.
