Sheila O’Leary Given Life Sentence After Feeding 18-Month-Old a Strict Raw Diet

Sheila O’Leary, a 39-year-old mother from Florida, has been sentenced to life imprisonment following the death of her 18-month-old son, Ezra, who starved to death from malnutrition after being fed a restrictive diet of raw fruits and vegetables. O’Leary was convicted in June of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, manslaughter, and neglect after a Florida jury found that Ezra, who weighed just 17 pounds at the time of his death in September 2019, had suffered extreme neglect under her care.

During the trial, prosecutors revealed that O’Leary and her husband, Ryan O’Leary, had fed their children—who also faced severe neglect—only a strict vegan diet, including raw fruit and vegetables, alongside breastfeeding. Ezra’s death was attributed to the lack of essential nutrients, while three other children, aged 3, 5, and 11, were also found to be victims of ongoing abuse and neglect.

After a five-day trial, the jury deliberated for just three hours before reaching a guilty verdict. Prosecutors detailed how O’Leary had ignored her son’s cries for help, choosing not to seek medical attention for his condition.

Ryan O’Leary, 33, faces similar charges, including sexual assault and molestation of a child under 12. He remains in prison awaiting trial.

Following the conviction, O’Leary was sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Ezra. Additionally, she received 30 years for aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter, as well as five years for child neglect and abuse, as confirmed by the Office of the State Attorney for Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit.