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Phoenix, AZ – A Phoenix couple is facing serious charges, including first-degree murder and child abuse, after their five-month-old infant tragically died and their other three young children were found to be severely malnourished. Authorities allege that Temaure Stanley, 25, and Janeice Brooks, 26, subjected their children to an extreme “alkaline diet” and deliberately avoided conventional medical care, leading to devastating consequences.
The grim discovery was made in July 2023 when Brooks called 911 to report her baby was unresponsive. The infant was pronounced dead at their central Phoenix home.
Court records reveal the couple’s three surviving children, aged two, four, and five, were hospitalized with a litany of severe medical conditions. These included rickets, osteopenia, critical vitamin D deficiency, and significant developmental delays. Doctors described their condition as severe malnutrition.
Prosecutors contend that Stanley and Brooks, influenced by what they believed to be “good health” practices and a distrust of standard medical treatments, imposed a highly restrictive diet on their children. This diet, consisting primarily of vegetables, fruit, and plant-based milks, reportedly provided almost no protein, fats, or fortified foods. Furthermore, the couple allegedly eschewed vaccines, common infant medical treatments, and even over-the-counter medications like Tylenol.
During a December 1 settlement conference, Stanley reportedly told the court that they “chose this diet for good health.” Disturbingly, court records indicate that the couple interpreted their children’s rapid weight loss as a sign the diet was effectively “removing toxins,” rather than a critical warning of their deteriorating health. The infant died just two months after the diet was implemented.
The “alkaline diet,” which purports to cure diseases and “detox” the body by altering acidity levels, is widely considered a debunked nutritional theory by medical professionals.
Stanley and Brooks were formally charged with first-degree murder and four counts of child abuse. Prosecutors have offered a plea deal that would result in a 16-year prison sentence. However, if the case proceeds to trial and they are convicted of felony murder, they could face a life sentence or even the death penalty.
Each child abuse charge carries a potential prison sentence ranging from 10 to 24 years. Due to the victims’ ages (under 15), these sentences would be required to run consecutively, meaning the child abuse charges alone could amount to a life sentence, as noted by the judge during the December 1 hearing. The couple is set to continue discussions with prosecutors regarding the potential plea agreement.