Infant dies from malnutrition, (military)parents facing charges - In the News

Victoria · 04-10-2008, 09:49 AM

Infant dies from malnutrition, parents facing charges

NORFOLK, VA. (WAVY.com) -- Two parents, both in the Navy, and one is facing a murder charge in the death of one their infant twin daughters.

21-year-old Heaven Smith is behind bars for the death of Miracle Bryant. She's now facing Felony Child Neglect for Miracle and for the baby's sister Heaven Bryant.

Their father, 21-year-old Corey Bryant is facing two counts of Felony Child Neglect.

Both parents faced a Norfolk judge Wednesday morning. They were arrested Tuesday after Miracle died at a local hospital.

Police say the girl apparently died from malnutrition.

A neighbor who lives near the parents residence of Monitor Way says she saw first responders Tuesday and wondered what was going on. She says if the allegations are true it's a shame.

Meghan Adam tells WAVY.com, "It's horrible to think that people would take their strife out on their children and it's not the children's fault."

Both parents remain held without bond at the Norfolk jail.

A Navy spokesman says the parents did not ask for any specialized fleet support. Heaven Smith is a ships serviceman seaman at Naval Support Activity Norfolk and is assigned to the Naval Amphibious Base.

Corey Bryant is an operations specialist seaman aboard the USS Monterrey.

A preliminary hearing is set for May 21.

Previous Coverage:

Mother charged with Murder, father with Neglect after 10-month-old dies from malnourishment

NORFOLK, VA. (WAVY.com) -- The mother of a 10-month old infant has been charged with Murder after one of her twin daughters died at DePaul Hospital Tuesday morning. The victim's sister is listed in critical condition.

A police department spokesperson told WAVY.com that the infants were suffering from malnourishment.

The mother, identified as 21-year-old Heaven Kristina Smith, has also been charged with two counts of Felony Child Neglect. The twins' father, identified as 21-year-old Corey Alan Bryant, also faces these two charges.

According to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, the parents were arraigned Wednesday morning. They both plan to retain defense attorney's and are being held without bond.

Police in Norfolk issued the following news release describing the circumstances and identifying the people involved:

Norfolk Police Homicide Investigators have charged the mother of a 10 month old infant with 1 count of Murder and 2 counts of Felony Child Neglect following the death of the child identified as Miracle Grace Bryant. The infant had been transported to DePaul hospital on the morning of April 8th suffering from an unknown medical condition along with her twin sister. At approximately 9:30 AM the infant was pronounced by the attending physician.

Following an autopsy by the Medical Examiner the death was ruled a homicide and warrants were secured for the above listed offenses. Her twin sister, Heaven L. Bryant, was listed in critical condition after being transferred to Portsmouth Naval Hospital following treatment.

The mother is identified as Heaven Kristina Smith B/F, 21, of the 8700 blk of Monitor Way in Norfolk.

The father of the children, identified as Corey Alan Bryant, W/M, 21, of the 8700 blk Monitor Way in Norfolk has been charged with 2 counts of Felony Child Neglect.

http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?s=8140375

michellelac · 04-10-2008, 09:53 AM

Horrible. What is wrong with people these days?

MaggieG0721 · 04-10-2008, 09:53 AM

omg that is horrible. some people really should never have children.

palemoon21 · 04-10-2008, 09:57 AM

I again, for the 2nd time today, am sickened by these effed up stories of child abuse and neglect!!!

to these "parents"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elizabeth · 04-10-2008, 10:00 AM

So the mother is charged with murder but the father isn't?

SandyKay · 04-10-2008, 10:02 AM

How could they let that happen, why didn't they ask for help if they couldn't support their kids?

cceribit · 04-10-2008, 10:05 AM

Most state laws determine that the mother is the 'most' responsible party for the care and nurturing of a child, unless there are reasons that the child live solely with the father. It basically looks at it as 'she' chose to have the child 'she' is totally and irreversibly responsible for the care of that child. So they deem the mother more at fault. ((I think it has to do with the BFing slant to things))

There was a case in NY that the mother was put in jail for murder, yet the father was home the entire time, saw what was happening etc, didn't intervene, but he got 2 other charges.

wyochick · 04-10-2008, 10:06 AM

Poor babies. That is so sad.

rosebud* · 04-10-2008, 10:08 AM

that is sickening.

froglove · 04-10-2008, 10:11 AM

GOSH people make me SOOOO angry when the neglect their children!!!

04-10-2008, 09:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
Victoria Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 35,064 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 3% Longevity: 57%	Infant dies from malnutrition, (military)parents facing charges Infant dies from malnutrition, parents facing charges NORFOLK, VA. (WAVY.com) -- Two parents, both in the Navy, and one is facing a murder charge in the death of one their infant twin daughters. 21-year-old Heaven Smith is behind bars for the death of Miracle Bryant. She's now facing Felony Child Neglect for Miracle and for the baby's sister Heaven Bryant. Their father, 21-year-old Corey Bryant is facing two counts of Felony Child Neglect. Both parents faced a Norfolk judge Wednesday morning. They were arrested Tuesday after Miracle died at a local hospital. Police say the girl apparently died from malnutrition. A neighbor who lives near the parents residence of Monitor Way says she saw first responders Tuesday and wondered what was going on. She says if the allegations are true it's a shame. Meghan Adam tells WAVY.com, "It's horrible to think that people would take their strife out on their children and it's not the children's fault." Both parents remain held without bond at the Norfolk jail. A Navy spokesman says the parents did not ask for any specialized fleet support. Heaven Smith is a ships serviceman seaman at Naval Support Activity Norfolk and is assigned to the Naval Amphibious Base. Corey Bryant is an operations specialist seaman aboard the USS Monterrey. A preliminary hearing is set for May 21. Previous Coverage: Mother charged with Murder, father with Neglect after 10-month-old dies from malnourishment NORFOLK, VA. (WAVY.com) -- The mother of a 10-month old infant has been charged with Murder after one of her twin daughters died at DePaul Hospital Tuesday morning. The victim's sister is listed in critical condition. A police department spokesperson told WAVY.com that the infants were suffering from malnourishment. The mother, identified as 21-year-old Heaven Kristina Smith, has also been charged with two counts of Felony Child Neglect. The twins' father, identified as 21-year-old Corey Alan Bryant, also faces these two charges. According to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office, the parents were arraigned Wednesday morning. They both plan to retain defense attorney's and are being held without bond. Police in Norfolk issued the following news release describing the circumstances and identifying the people involved: Norfolk Police Homicide Investigators have charged the mother of a 10 month old infant with 1 count of Murder and 2 counts of Felony Child Neglect following the death of the child identified as Miracle Grace Bryant. The infant had been transported to DePaul hospital on the morning of April 8th suffering from an unknown medical condition along with her twin sister. At approximately 9:30 AM the infant was pronounced by the attending physician. Following an autopsy by the Medical Examiner the death was ruled a homicide and warrants were secured for the above listed offenses. Her twin sister, Heaven L. Bryant, was listed in critical condition after being transferred to Portsmouth Naval Hospital following treatment. The mother is identified as Heaven Kristina Smith B/F, 21, of the 8700 blk of Monitor Way in Norfolk. The father of the children, identified as Corey Alan Bryant, W/M, 21, of the 8700 blk Monitor Way in Norfolk has been charged with 2 counts of Felony Child Neglect. http://www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp?s=8140375

04-10-2008, 09:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
MaggieG0721 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Woodbridge, VA Posts: 4,622 Classifieds: (1) Activity: 0% Longevity: 33%	omg that is horrible. some people really should never have children. __________________

04-10-2008, 10:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
Elizabeth FLORIDIAN Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sigonella, Sicily Posts: 11,748 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 1% Longevity: 63%	So the mother is charged with murder but the father isn't? __________________ Have you ever thought about what protects our hearts? / Just a cage of rib bones and other various parts / So it's fairly simple to cut right through the mess / And stop the muscle that makes us confess / And we are so fragile / And our cracking bones make noise / And we are just breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys.

04-10-2008, 10:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
SandyKay Just your everyday, laidback Aussie Girl Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somewhere out there Posts: 15,823 Classifieds: (16) Activity: 100% Longevity: 41%	How could they let that happen, why didn't they ask for help if they couldn't support their kids? __________________ www.my.tupperware.com/sandyroddy Let me help you change your life

04-10-2008, 10:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
cceribit Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,556 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 40%	Most state laws determine that the mother is the 'most' responsible party for the care and nurturing of a child, unless there are reasons that the child live solely with the father. It basically looks at it as 'she' chose to have the child 'she' is totally and irreversibly responsible for the care of that child. So they deem the mother more at fault. ((I think it has to do with the BFing slant to things)) There was a case in NY that the mother was put in jail for murder, yet the father was home the entire time, saw what was happening etc, didn't intervene, but he got 2 other charges. __________________ * Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes. * * Women's Rule of Thumb: If it has tires or testicles, you're going to have trouble with it! * * My husband bought me a mood ring the other day. When I'm in a good mood it turns green. When I'm in a bad mood, it leaves a red mark on his forehead. * Never go to bed mad, stay up and fight it out. --------------------------------------------- A half truth is still a whole lie.

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04-10-2008, 09:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
michellelac Account Closed Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ft. Posts: 1,745 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 41%	Horrible. What is wrong with people these days?

04-10-2008, 09:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
palemoon21 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Camp Lejeune-I left DH & moved to PA Posts: 1,518 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 33%	I again, for the 2nd time today, am sickened by these effed up stories of child abuse and neglect!!! to these "parents"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

04-10-2008, 10:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
wyochick I love dress whites!! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,780 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 0% Longevity: 45%	Poor babies. That is so sad.

04-10-2008, 10:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
rosebud* i didn't realize that the USSR was back. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: [communist china] Posts: 32,708 Classifieds: (0) Activity: 8% Longevity: 69%	that is sickening. __________________ I will miss you SOS... Please be wary of what you post remember OPSEC is not just another acronym.

04-10-2008, 10:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
froglove Floppy Froggie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bellevue, Ne. Posts: 19,730 Classifieds: (2) Activity: 100% Longevity: 83%	GOSH people make me SOOOO angry when the neglect their children!!! __________________ By 867-5309: Hey Feeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!! Froggy and Marie Callender are correct.