An Irish-American mother has been found guilty of murder and abuse after the death of her 18-month-old baby.
Sheila O'Leary from Florida was handed down a life sentence for first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter, child abuse and two counts of child neglect.
The 38-year-old's son Ezra (18 months) weighed just eight kilograms – the size of a seven-month-old baby - when he died in September 2019.
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His diet had consisted of only fruits, vegetables and breast milk.
Ezra's father, Patrick O'Leary, is currently in jail awaiting trial.
The couple, from Cape Coral in Florida, have two other children, aged three and five. Investigators say both were also malnourished, had yellow skin and had very poor dental hygiene resulting in 'black teeth'.
Officers said it was unclear if the children had ever been brought to see a doctor.
A fourth child was also returned to their biological parent in Virginia after Judge Bruce Kyle ordered that Sheila O'Leary would have no contact with her surviving children.
Speaking after the trial Lee Hollander, O'Leary's defence attorney, said: "It was what we were expecting," and said his team intends to appeal the verdict.
The O'Learys admitted to police following Ezra's death that the baby had not eaten for weeks.
They said on the night of his death, he was struggling to breathe. However, instead of seeking help, the couple went to sleep.
When they awoke the following morning, Ezra had passed away.
Francine Donnorummo, Special Victims Unit chief at the State Attorney's Office, said the child's murder occurred over an extended period.
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