An individual has been handed a 20-year prison sentence for causing the death of his two-month-old son due to severe neglect.
At the age of 40, Kristopher Matthews was convicted of aggravated child abuse in August. Startling revelations have now emerged regarding the tragic and distressing life of baby Karson, marked by immense suffering.
According to Prosecutor C.J. Robinson, the infant was born weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces. However, just two months later, he passed away weighing significantly less, indicating prolonged starvation.
“During questioning by law enforcement, Kristopher Matthews confessed that he never provided any nourishment to his child, asserting that he felt no responsibility to do so as the father,” Robinson disclosed.
It was also disclosed that Matthews had never sought medical attention for Karson after the infant was discharged from the hospital following birth.
Robinson likened the images from the investigation in 2018 to scenes from a terrifying movie, describing the emaciated child’s body as resembling a filthy, skin-covered skeleton, a haunting sight that would forever remain etched in the memory of those who witnessed it.
Karson’s mother, Shirley Matthews, was also found guilty of aggravated child abuse in July 2024 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison like her partner.
“Kristopher and Shirley Matthews callously destroyed the life of their son through their neglect until his untimely death,” Robinson remarked. “This was among the most challenging cases we have prosecuted. The agony and tragic demise of this infant could have been entirely prevented.”
“The presence of evil is undeniable,” he added. “Frankly, the punishment of imprisonment is inadequate for the justice they should face, but it is the maximum penalty permitted by law.”
During the sentencing, Presiding Judge Amanda Baxley directly addressed Kristopher Matthews from Alabama, labeling the case as “horrific.”
“I wish I could impose a sentence longer than 20 years, but both the prosecution and I were bound by the law in place at the time of the offense,” she expressed. Baxley noted that Alabama legislation has since been amended to allow for stricter consequences in similar cases, although these amendments were not yet effective when the crime was committed.
The recent incident follows the liberation of six young children, including a two-month-old baby, who were discovered confined in a storage unit they had been locked inside.
Authorities in Milwaukee have apprehended a 26-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man on charges of child abuse and neglect after the children were rescued from a StorSafe unit located in the northern part of the city.
Upon entering the unit, law enforcement encountered six children, aged between two months and nine years. Fortunately, reports indicate that the children did not sustain any physical harm during their period of confinement.
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