The Brief
- A Florida couple was sentenced to over 13 years in prison for the neglect and starvation death of their 11-month-old daughter in 2021.
- Authorities found the infant malnourished in filthy conditions, determining she hadn’t eaten for days.
- Prosecutors condemned the parents’ actions, calling it a tragic case of severe neglect.
LEESBURG, Fla. – A Florida couple was sentenced to over 13 years in prison for the neglect and starvation death of their 11-month-old daughter in 2021.
Infant had not eaten in days: Medical examiner
What we know:
Margaret Elizabeth Lehman, 27, and Mark Edward Brittian Jr., 30, were found guilty in the death of their 11-month-old daughter, Marcelyn Brittian.
Judge Cary F. Rada sentenced Lehman to 13 years in prison and Brittian to 13.25 years. Prosecutors charged both with aggravated manslaughter after their daughter was found unresponsive in their Leesburg home in September 2021.
Responding officers said they discovered the child in a playpen, covered in dirt and dried feces, and the home was in poor condition, with a strong odor of garbage and rotting food. …