LAKELAND, FL -- Two people are under arrest after they allegedly starved their baby to death.
Deputies arrested Tivasha Logan, 25, and her boyfriend Chauncey Gardner, 27, after they responded to a 911 call and found 5-month-old Chauntasia Gardner starved to death in their home.
Detectives also found five other children in the home, all in good health.
According to officials, the couple had food stamps and government assistance. Yet deputies found only two ounces of formula in the house, Sheriff Grady Judd said. He added that the parents were not even mixing the formula correctly.
Judd said the act was "nothing other than torture,” describing the baby as “emaciated,” “malnourished” and “skin and bones.”
“We saw what you can’t even imagine,” Judd said. “I doubt if your imagination could capture what our deputies and EMS saw Sunday morning.”
Gardner has a long arrest record that includes drugs, fraud and failing to pay child support. According to Judd, he bragged that he had fathered 10 kids, including Chauntasia.
Logan has six children. She has also an arrest record and was on weekend work release, Judd said.
Gardner and Logan face charges of felony murder and aggravated child abuse.
Neighbors were disgusted by what they heard was taking place.
“I had no idea that was the parenting they had (going on next door),” said neighbor Stacy Jacobs. “If I had known what was going on, it wouldn’t have happened. Not for a second.”
“I can’t believe this. It is so atrocious,” said neighbor Jackie Davis. “It just tears my heart apart. I feel so sorry for that baby.”
