Parents plead guilty in death of diabetic 4-year-old mostly fed soda through baby bottle
Parents plead guilty in death of diabetic 4-year-old mostly fed soda through baby bottle The Cincinnati Enquirer
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The Importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Parents Plead Guilty in Death of 4-Year-Old Girl
The parents of a 4-year-old Clermont County girl, who prosecutors say died of complications from diabetes after being fed mostly Mountain Dew through a baby bottle, have pleaded guilty to charges related to their daughter’s death.
Christopher Hoeb, the girl’s father, pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter and her mother, Tamara Banks, pleaded guilty to the same charge in March, according to documents filed in Clermont County Common Pleas Court.
Hoeb, 53, and Banks, 41, were indicted in July on counts including murder, involuntary manslaughter and endangering children. In exchange for their guilty pleas, prosecutors have recommended the remaining charges be dropped.
Hamilton County Coroner’s Office records show Karmity Hoeb died at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center on Jan. 25, 2022.
Neglect and Abuse Resulted in Tragic Death
Karmity suffered neglect and abuse for the majority of her life and her parents denied her proper nutrition and medical care, according to prosecutors. The girl’s death was a result of diabetic ketoacidosis − a life-threatening complication of diabetes most often associated with Type 1.
Just four days before she died, Karmity started showing signs of a “serious medical issue” while at home with her parents, prosecutors said in a court filing.
Those symptoms worsened as the days progressed, prosecutors said, with Hoeb and Banks not calling 911 until the child turned blue and stopped breathing.
First responders were able to revive the child for a short time before taking her to the hospital, where doctors performed brain scans that showed she was brain dead. An autopsy revealed that Karmity died from a diabetes-related brain injury.
Prevention and Proper Care Could Have Saved Her Life
Prosecutors said Karmity lived with undiagnosed diabetes and her death could’ve been prevented with proper treatment and care.
Karmity also suffered from a condition that caused her teeth to dissolve due to her being fed sugary soda through a baby bottle.
Prosecutors said Banks would often mix baby formula with Mountain Dew, long after Karmity should’ve been weaned off a bottle, and that investigators were unable to find evidence of the child ever visiting the dentist.
Banks also has several other grown children who were treated poorly in her custody, including a son who fell into a coma at 4 years old from previously undiagnosed diabetes, according to court documents.
While the boy recovered, prosecutors said, Banks continued to neglect his medical needs, failed to have him seen by a doctor and never attended his follow-up visits.
Possible Prison Sentences and Recommendations
Hoeb and Banks face a maximum possible prison sentence of 11 years. Under a state law that says the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction can extend someone’s sentence based on conduct while in prison, the pair could serve up to 16½ years.
Prosecutors have recommended Hoeb serve a seven-year sentence, though no such recommendation has been made for Banks, court records show.
Banks is set to appear in court again before Judge Victor Haddad on May 24 for sentencing, while Hoeb won’t be sentenced until June 11.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | 2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | 3.4 By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | 4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | 16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Not mentioned in the article |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.16 Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources | Not mentioned in the article |
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Source: cincinnati.com
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