KaylynnCouture
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Accused of starving their newborn daughter to the point of emaciation, a Bellevue couple now faces felony charges on allegations they were more worried about their infant's appearance than her health.
In charging documents, King County prosecutors contend Brittainy and Samuel Labberton continued trying to force the child to lose weight months after the girl had been pulled from their home.
Following a visit with the Labbertons in January 2009, the infant's foster parents found that the then-5-month-old girl had been returned with a bottle that "smelled very fishy," according to charging documents. Testing of the bottle, a pediatrician determined the bottle was likely filled with a laxative -- a frequently used weight-loss technique.
Despite their claims, the girl thrived while hospitalized and immediately began putting on weight, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor told the court. Told of her child's progress, Brittainy Labberton was not pleased.
"Instead, Brittainy complained, 'Oh my God she's fat' and 'I have a fat baby,'" Spoor stated, recounting the December 2008 interview. "Brittainy insisted that (the girl) should be under the 50th percentile in weight, not over it.
"She indicated that her husband has a weight problem and she does not want her girls to be fat."
Spoor told the court social services workers took custody of the couple's other child, a two-year-old girl, the following day after Brittainy Labberton said she felt she would kill herself and the child. Arriving at the foster home, the older girl was "ravenously hungry," eating so fast that she nearly choked on her food.
Snipped from http://www.seattlepi.com/local/414685_starve26.html
In charging documents, King County prosecutors contend Brittainy and Samuel Labberton continued trying to force the child to lose weight months after the girl had been pulled from their home.
Following a visit with the Labbertons in January 2009, the infant's foster parents found that the then-5-month-old girl had been returned with a bottle that "smelled very fishy," according to charging documents. Testing of the bottle, a pediatrician determined the bottle was likely filled with a laxative -- a frequently used weight-loss technique.
Despite their claims, the girl thrived while hospitalized and immediately began putting on weight, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Carol Spoor told the court. Told of her child's progress, Brittainy Labberton was not pleased.
"Instead, Brittainy complained, 'Oh my God she's fat' and 'I have a fat baby,'" Spoor stated, recounting the December 2008 interview. "Brittainy insisted that (the girl) should be under the 50th percentile in weight, not over it.
"She indicated that her husband has a weight problem and she does not want her girls to be fat."
Spoor told the court social services workers took custody of the couple's other child, a two-year-old girl, the following day after Brittainy Labberton said she felt she would kill herself and the child. Arriving at the foster home, the older girl was "ravenously hungry," eating so fast that she nearly choked on her food.
Snipped from http://www.seattlepi.com/local/414685_starve26.html