A vegan couple have been charged with neglect after almost starving their five-month-old son to death by ‘feeding him a recipe they found on the internet’.

Julia French, 20, and Robert Buskey, 31, decided to go against the doctor-prescribed formula for their baby.

The Florida couple fed their son ‘a concoction made of mashed potatoes’.

Police claim Buskey could afford the doctor-prescribed formula however chose to ignore it (Picture: WFTV)

Julia French reportedly found the recipe on the internet (Picture: WFTV)

Investigators were shocked to find that the infant weighed ‘only 8 pounds, 8 ounces after being recorded at birth at 7 pounds, 9 ounces’, according to WFTV news.


The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) said the boy was malnourished with his ribs visible and eyes appearing sunken.

Titusville Police Detective Lauren Watson said: ‘At one point, when the child was doing good and healthy and gaining weight, he was on an organic formula and they changed it on their own.



‘I’ve never seen a child to this level, this close to possible death.’

Robert Buskey has been charged with neglect (Picture: Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)

20-year-old Julia French (Picture: Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)

The couple are accused of ignoring the type of formula that would fit with their ‘vegan lifestyle ordered by their doctor’ and choosing instead to feed their son a potato-based creation found on the internet by French.

Police said the parents could afford the prescribed formula and did not give a reason as to why they did not provide it to their child.

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As of Wednesday, the baby, who is now in DCF custody, has gained half a pound on fluids alone.

According to court papers, the baby had been ‘lethargic and not crying’ when found and ‘had difficulties maintaining his temperature and sugar due to dehydration and malnourishment.’

Both Buskey and French are currently being held in Brevard County Jail.

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