Illinois parents get decades in 6-year-old boy's starvation death
01/16/2019 10:58 am PST
via WGN:
JERSEYVILLE, Ill. (WGN/AP) -- An Illinois father and stepmother will spend decades in prison in the starvation death of their 6-year-old son, who authorities say weighed just 17 pounds when he died.
The Alton Telegraph reports a judge on Wednesday sentenced Michael L. Roberts to 25 years in prison and Georgena L. Roberts to 20 years.
The 43-year-olds from Jerseyville both pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in November. Two counts of endangering the life and health of a child were dropped.
Authorities have said the couple starved the boy as a form of punishment and withheld food and nourishment on a regular basis.
MORE: Illinois parents get decades in 6-year-old boy's starvation death - WGN
