A Florida vegan couple has been charged with a raft of offences, including murder, after their young son died from malnutrition.
According to local media outlet WKMG, Ryan and Sheila O'Leary were indicted on Wednesday (US time) with charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter, child abuse and two counts of child neglect.
Their 18-month-old son was found by Sheila in September not breathing and cold. The mother tried to resuscitate the child, but he was dead when authorities later arrived.
The Fort Myers News-Press reported in November that the child, whose diet consisted of raw fruit, vegetables and breastmilk, weighed only 7.7kg - what a seven-month-old child should weigh. The average weight for an 18-month-old is about 11kg. He hadn't eaten for a week before his death.
The child's autopsy found his death was caused by malnutrition. After the child's cause of death was established, the couple turned themselves into police.
"The evidence and crime scene in this case are gut-wrenching. These are images as a mother and state attorney I will not be able to forget," said state attorney Amira Fox.
The couple have two other children - aged three and five - who have been described as extremely small for their ages. One also had blackened teeth. An 11-year-old daughter of Sheila's had previously been removed from her home to live with her father.
According to their neighbours, Sheila and Ryan lived a "secret life" but never gave off any "red flags".
The couple will return to court on Monday.
