A man and four women who shared a home with their 13 children were charged with murder and child neglect Monday in the death of one toddler and the malnourishment of the other youngsters.
The 19-month-old baby, whose bones were extremely brittle, was pronounced dead of severe malnutrition and neglect at a hospital in November after the women brought him in.
The other children, ranging in age from 8 months to 16 years, were placed into emergency foster care. Most suffered from rickets, a bone-softening disease caused by the lack of vitamin D that is almost unheard of in the United States.
Winnfred Wright, 45, and the women–Carol Bremner, 44; Mary Campbell, 37; Deirdre Wilson, 37; and Kali Polk-Matthews, 20–were arrested Friday and held without bail for an arraignment Monday.
Wright, Bremner, Campbell and Wilson face charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Polk-Matthews faces one count of involuntary manslaughter. All face child endangerment charges.
None of the children was enrolled in public school, said Marin County sheriff’s Detective Fred Marziano.
Neighbors said they rarely saw the children emerge from the upscale rental home.
