A Florida couple was arrested earlier this week after they starved their five-month-old son by feeding him a potato-based mash formula. The formula caused the infant to become malnourished.

According to WFTV, 20-year-old Jersey Julia French and her boyfriend,31-year-old Robert Buskey,allegedly starved their son after changing his prescribed formula. Titusville police say the infant appeared to be malnourished and said his ribs were visible, had sunken eyes, and difficulty maintaining his temperature and sugar due to dehydration and malnutrition. The infant’s doctor told Titusville police that the infant was doing well when he prescribed an organic formula but the couple changed it.

“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,”

The “vegan” couple said they fed their son with a potato-based mash which led to the infant suffering from health complications.

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The couple was arrested and charged with neglect along with other offenses. A rep from the Department of Children and Families says the infant has gained half a pound since he was given fluids on Wednesday night. Detective Lauren Watson said she’s never seen a child suffer so close to death.

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“I’ve never seen a child to this level, this close to possible death”

The infant currently in the custody of the state.



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