Girl Dies After Being Forced To Drink Soda

[Jazzy]

A couple has been charged with the murder of a five-year-old girl after she was forced to drink more than two litres of grape soda and water as a punishment.

Alexa Linboom was taken to hospital on January 1 2012 by her father, Randall Vaughn and his wife, Mary - her stepmother - after the child turned blue, according to the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office in Tennessee.

The girl was found to have severe brain damage as a result of the massive intake of fluid. It caused her brain to swell which subsequently led to her death.

After a two-year investigation, the authorities ruled that the girl's death was murder and the couple have been charged.

District attorney Berkeley Bell said: "Our position is it was a matter of several hours after the child started exhibiting serious symptoms, after the child was screaming out in pain, went into a paralysed state and became unconscious.

"Allegedly the child, as a form of punishment, was forced to drink grape drinks, as well as a great deal of water, to the point that her body became water intoxicated.

"That led to her brain swelling and all of her systems shutting down, and to her eventual brain death.

"The punishment was allegedly for stealing a grape drink. I don't know exactly how much liquid she drank, but there was 4.5 12 ounce drinks plus water in-between."

A total of six children were living in the household at the time of Alexa's death.

The other five are now in foster care.

The natural mother of the girl reportedly lives in another state.

Randall Vaughn, 41, and his 58-year-old wife are being held in jail, pending bail.

Source

Took two years but I'm glad they got to the bottom of Alexa's death. I'm also glad the other five children are now in foster care and safe.

 

[draco99]

That... is just... wow.

 

[~KAGE-008]

Drinking soda as punishment?! That's... weird indeed.

 

[Bluezone777]

Reminds me of that episode on King of the Hill where Hank forced his son to smoke an entire carton of cigarettes because he caught him smoking once. Makes you wonder if they didn't get the idea from that show or any other show that had such a scene in it because they weren't told that the outcome could easily be death and not just some minor illness at worst.

When you become deaf to your conscience, there is no limit to the barbarity you are willing to partake in for either pleasure or "justice".

I wouldn't be surprised if the parents of these two was equally heartless in their methods of "parenting".

 

[~KAGE-008]

Reminds me of that episode on King of the Hill where Hank forced his son to smoke an entire carton of cigarettes because he caught him smoking once. Makes you wonder if they didn't get the idea from that show or any other show that had such a scene in it because they weren't told that the outcome could easily be death and not just some minor illness at worst.

I remember it too! Sadly that show was removed from Channel 11 over here

But back on topic, this is another reason to drink soda regularly, especially during the holiday season.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Wow, angry about the theft or not, how could these parents put a child through this horrible act of abuse and consider it to be parenting?

But back on topic, this is another reason to drink soda regularly, especially during the holiday season.

Huh? How is this article a reason to drink soda regularly?

 

[~KAGE-008]

What I wrote is a personal note, since I used to drink soda a lot and some people kept telling me excessive soda can damage health after a long period.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

What I wrote is a personal note, since I drink soda a lot and some people keep telling me excessive soda can damage health after a long period.

So someone dying gives you motivation to keep on drinking excessive amounts of soda?

 

[~KAGE-008]

What I wrote is a personal note, since I drink soda a lot and some people keep telling me excessive soda can damage health after a long period.

So someone dying gives you motivation to keep on drinking excessive amounts of soda?

No. It rather gives me an advice. Something I should've done long time ago.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Not following you, the word "regularly" means it's something you do all the time.