Ohio parents will fight malnutrition death charges

1/10/2013

CLEVELAND — Their attorney says the northern Ohio parents indicted in the death of their malnourished 18-month-old disabled son will fight the charges and show they were following medical advice.

Adrienne Bartholomew and James Brothers of Vermilion also have been charged with providing poor care to five other children, most of whom were malnourished and undersized.

Attorney Denise Demmitt told The Associated Press on Thursday that the couple will plead not guilty and will show that the children's care followed the advice of physicians.

There was no immediate comment from the Erie County social service agency in Sandusky. The agency said earlier it had seen no malnourishment issues when its oversight of the family ended three years ago.

A grandmother who cared for the children also has been charged.