Parents intentionally starved 2-year-old son who weighed 17 pounds when he died

The parents of an Oklahoma lad who died of starvation person pleaded blameworthy to their son's murder.

Daniel Ash, 33, and Amber Murphy, 32, entered blameworthy pleas to 1 number each of second-degree execution successful national tribunal successful transportation with the decease of their 2-year-old son, Charles Wayne Ash. Ash and Murphy, who is simply a subordinate of the Quapaw Nation, were charged aft bringing Charles to Integris Baptist Regional Health Center successful Miami, Oklahoma, wherever helium was pronounced dormant connected Sept. 11, 2024.

According to an autopsy report obtained by section NBC affiliate KSN, Charles weighed conscionable 17 pounds erstwhile helium died of starvation.

Ash and Murphy were indicted successful national court successful March 2025 successful transportation with Charles' decease and alleged neglect toward their different 4 children. Ash was besides charged with engaging successful a intersexual enactment with a insignificant kid nether 12 years old, a complaint that was dismissed arsenic portion of his plea deal. Ash's plea took spot connected May 7, and Murphy's took spot connected May 8.

According to the autopsy report, Charles had ne'er been taken to a doc aft helium was born successful July 2022. When Ash and Murphy brought him to the exigency country connected the time helium died, they said helium was "not feeling good and having trouble breathing." Doctors said the lad was "unresponsive" erstwhile helium arrived and was observed to beryllium successful "decorticate posturing," a reflex position that indicates encephalon damage.

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In summation to showing signs of neglect, specified arsenic soiled fingernails and toenails, the lad had "severe musculus wasting" and hardly immoderate assemblage fat. The aesculapian examiner noted that the lad was dehydrated and anemic with debased humor sweetener levels. Charles' encephalon besides weighed little than that expected of a toddler his age.

Sentencing dates person not been acceptable for either Ash oregon Murphy.