‘Evil people’: US couple who starved six-year-old son to death jailed
Georgena Roberts and Michael L. Roberts have been sentenced to decades behind bars for starving their son Liam to death. AP
A US couple who starved their six-year-old son Liam Roberts to death as punishment will spend decades behind bars.
Liam weighed just eight kilograms when he died in 2017 – a third of the typical weight of a boy his age – and was so hungry he would eat scraps off the floor.
Liam’s father Michael L. Roberts was sentenced to 25 years in prison and his stepmother, Georgena L. Roberts, to 20 years in an Illinois court this week, The Alton Telegraph reported.
The 43-year-olds from Jerseyville both pleaded guilty in November to first-degree murder in the boy’s tragic death.
"For this to have occurred is beyond comprehension," Chief Circuit Judge Eric S. Pistorius said.
Authorities have said the couple starved the boy as a form of punishment and that they withheld food and nourishment on a regular basis.
A preliminary autopsy indicated Liam died of extreme malnourishment.
"The two solely responsible for the death of this beautiful child will now spend the better part of their adult lives in prison, where they belong," Jersey County State's Attorney Ben Goetten and Jerseyville Police Chief Brad Blackorby said in a joint statement.
School personnel said Liam was so obsessed with food that "when he came to school he would literally eat food off the floor," Jerseyville Police Department deputy chief Major Scott Woelfel said.
Liam's biological mother, Kim Roberts, spoke at the hearing, calling out the "evil people" who ensured her son died "terrified" and "alone".
The Telegraph report didn't explain why she did not have custody of Liam.
Georgena and Michael Roberts made emotional statements and their lawyers asked for leniency.
Michael Roberts described himself as a "coward" and said his son paid the price.
His wife apologised, saying: "My heart is shattered and I will be forever broken."
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