Florida parents convicted of starving toddler to death with strict raw fruits, vegetables diet

Sheila O'Leary fed her child only raw fruits, vegetables and breast milk. Her husband, Ryan O'Leary may face the same charges

By Edward Era Barbacena

Toddlers from ages 1 to 3 years as we all have known are in their crucial stage of development meaning proper nutrition based on proven scientific research should be properly given for the expedient development of physiologic functions of brain and body.  

Alterations to the suggested nutrition by health experts may lead to the delayed milestone, malnutrition and worse scenario - death. 

Everyone is expected to know this very basic fact among toddlers. It is very puzzling for Sheila O'Leary a WHITE woman and a mother to decide to  alter the nutritional needs of her toddler based on her preferred diet as vegetarian.

 O'Leary is facing life in prison for murdering her 18-month-old child who starved to death on a strict raw fruit and vegetable diet.

A Florida jury convicted Sheila O’Leary, 39, on Wednesday of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter, child abuse and two counts of child neglect in the death of her son, Ezra.

Ezra weighed 17 pounds – seven pounds below average – when he died in his sleep in 2019.

Following Ezra’s death, Sheila and her husband, Ryan, told authorities that the family followed a strict vegan diet limited to "only raw fruits and vegetables" and "breast milk," according to News Press.

During the Lee County trial on Wednesday, prosecutor Francine Donnorummo, special victims unit chief at the state attorney's office, used O’Leary’s Google searches at the time Ezra’s health declined as evidence against her. 

Donnorummo emphasized Ezra’s condition was chronic as O’Leary failed to provide her child with food and health care, according to News Press.

"This was a thought-out, planned course of action," Donnorummo said. "Ignorance is not a defense in this case."

Defense attorney Lee Hollander then addressed the jury, showing photos of Sheila and Ezra. 

"Does that look like a mom who wants to kill her kid?" Hollander asked. "Just because it happened doesn’t mean she committed a crime."

In closing arguments, co-prosecutor Sara Miller, an assistant state attorney, addressed jurors and indicated the crime was not that Ezra died in his sleep, but that O’Leary refused to get her child medical help. 

"She chose to disregard Ezra's suffering," Miller said.

Sheila O'Leary faces sentencing later this month.

Ryan O’Leary, 33, was indicted on the same charges and is expected to stand trial later this year.