Vegan Mother of malnourished kids gets 30 years

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Margaret Harding

The Arizona republic

SCOTTSDALE - A Scottsdale woman found guilty of three counts of child abuse was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday.

Kimu Parker was charged with three counts of child abuse after her three young children were found malnourished and emaciated.

She was sentenced to 10 years for each count.

But Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Thomas O'Toole said he might ask the state's clemency board to reduce the sentence, according to the county attorney's office. The attorney's office opposes the measure.

"Thirty years in prison is entirely appropriate for a person who almost starved to death three defenseless children. We will strongly oppose any attempt to reduce this sentence," County Attorney Andrew Thomas said in a statement.

The three children, ages 3, 9 and 11 at the time of the arrest in April 2005, weighed 12, 29 and 36 pounds, respectively.

The typical weight for a 3-year-old child is 33 pounds. A 9-year-old normally weighs about 69 pounds, and an 11-year-old, 87 pounds.

The children's father, Blair Parker, is scheduled for a court hearing Aug. 23. He also was charged with three counts of child abuse.

The couple told police their children's low weights were due to their vegan diets. Vegans do not eat meat, fish, poultry or other animal products, such as dairy.

Matt Prescott, manager of vegan campaigns for PETA, said a healthy vegan diet would not result in malnourishment.

"It's disturbing. Feeding your kids a healthy vegan diet - and starving them - are apples and oranges," Prescott said. "One is a good way to set kids up for a lifetime of proper health, and the other is simply child abuse."

http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsd...gan0803-ON.html

[Ban Hammer 14,652]

hopefully by the time she gets out she'll have gone thru menopause and can't have any more kids.

[Empress 0]

I remember this case

30 years is a long time tho.

[^KK^ 3]

She'll get to see her kids one they are gown and have their own.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

[Heracles 417]

Vegans crack me up. Humans have been eating meat for over 100,000 years yet vegans suggest that basically eating grass is better.

[KarenCee 3]

When there are children abused in this way, I don't think 30 years is too long. These parents should have known better, should have known those precious children were starving. Nah, no sympathy here.

[Fandango 1,440]

Kids weighing 12, 29 and 36 pounds? 30 years is sufficient

And a big LAWLZ to LS for that hilarious pic

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Blair Parker, 34, and Kimu Parker, 35

I have mixed feelings about this. Were the parents malnourishing their children with criminal intent? Should we also throw parents in jail when their kids are obese? I don't know all the mitigating circumstances with this case, but counseling and other preventative measures would be my first choice unless both parents have been determined unfit to raise the kids.

...

During a police interview, Blair Parker told investigators that the family is vegan and did not eat animal or dairy products. He said they didn't consume those foods because of the steroids fed to the animals and that their diet consisted of fruits, vegetables, rice and beans.

http://www.fox11az.com/news/state/stories/....265aa4c61.html

[KarenCee 3]

No, I'm sure there wasn't any criminal intent...BUT don't you think they would have KNOWN those children were starving???? Wouldn't the extreme thinness be one's first clue?

Edited August 3, 2007 by KarenCee

[Fandango 1,440]

Blair Parker, 34, and Kimu Parker, 35

I have mixed feelings about this. Were the parents malnourishing their children with criminal intent? Should we also throw parents in jail when their kids are obese? I don't know all the mitigating circumstances with this case, but counseling and other preventative measures would be my first choice unless both parents have been determined unfit to raise the kids.

...

During a police interview, Blair Parker told investigators that the family is vegan and did not eat animal or dairy products. He said they didn't consume those foods because of the steroids fed to the animals and that their diet consisted of fruits, vegetables, rice and beans.

http://www.fox11az.com/news/state/stories/....265aa4c61.html

being vegan and having a 12 lb 3 year old, 29 lb 9 year old, and a 36 lb 11 year old are two different things.

[Dr_LHA 3]

being vegan and having a 12 lb 3 year old, 29 lb 9 year old, and a 36 lb 11 year old are two different things.

Indeed. A friend of mine is a vegan, and feeds his 2 kids vegan diets. Guess what, they're 2 extremely fit and active young kids. Neglect is neglect, the "vegan" thing is a red herring here.

[Fandango 1,440]

being vegan and having a 12 lb 3 year old, 29 lb 9 year old, and a 36 lb 11 year old are two different things.

Indeed. A friend of mine is a vegan, and feeds his 2 kids vegan diets. Guess what, they're 2 extremely fit and active young kids. Neglect is neglect, the "vegan" thing is a red herring here.

exactly

[Reba 2]

How is it it took so long for someone to intervene here? Those kids could have/should have been taken away long ago IMO! An 11 y/o who weighs only 36 pounds is lucky if s/he can even stand up, let alone think properly and manage through school! No one noticed anything was wrong with these kids? sheesh!

I think 10 years for child abuse is a fair sentence. And they have 3 kids, so yeah, 30 years total seems about right. The neighbours should get a smack upside the head too

[Fandango 1,440]

How is it it took so long for someone to intervene here? Those kids could have/should have been taken away long ago IMO! An 11 y/o who weighs only 36 pounds is lucky if s/he can even stand up, let alone think properly and manage through school! No one noticed anything was wrong with these kids? sheesh!

You raise a really good point here...