Couple charged for 'starving toddler to death' after feeding him strict vegan diet

Sheila and Ryan O'Leary were charged with negligent manslaughter for the death of their 18-month-old son. [Photo: Lee County Sheriff's Office]

A couple in Florida were arrested earlier this month after their 18-month-old son died of malnutrition, Fox News reported.

The toddler was found dead when Paramedics arrived in response to a 911 call to Ryan and Sheila O'Leary's home. An autopsy showed the boy had suffered from complications related to malnutrition such as dehydration and microsteatosis of the liver. It was reported the boy weighed only 17 pounds, less than half of the normal weight for boys his age.

Police later found out the O'Learys are vegans and that although the mother breast feed their toddler son, they have been feeding him nothing else except raw fruit and vegetables. The boy had not eaten solid food for a week when police found him and pronounced him dead.

The O'Learys are living with 3 other children, and two of them, aged 3 and 5, also had symptoms malnutrition, according to a NBC News report.

The couple were arrested and charged with aggravated negligent manslaughter among other changers.