Sun Prairie, WI – A 22-year-old woman was sentenced to eight years in prison for felony child neglect after her infant son died from malnourishment. Taryn L. Strait pleaded guilty in connection with the death of her three-week-old son Dev’Kumar Keys.
The child died on February 1 in Sun Prairie, a suburb of Madison. An autopsy indicated that the infant weighed only five pounds, having lost more than a pound since his birth.
Strait and her boyfriend, 27-year-old De’Varius D. Keys, primarily fed the child almond milk while refusing to give him formula. Strait believed that baby formulas contained lead and supported her notion by watching videos online.
On the day of the child’s death, police reports stated that Strait observed the infant in his bassinet around 2:30 a.m. Shortly thereafter, she felt the boy go limp after picking him up.
Instead of calling 911, Strait and Keys transported the infant to a hospital due to concerns about ambulance costs. Medical personnel attempted to save the boy, but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigators revealed that the infant’s weight loss had prompted doctors to advise the parents to increase feeding every two hours. The couple did not attend a subsequent doctor’s appointment to monitor the child’s health and failed to respond to follow-up calls from Child Protective Services.
CPS had previously assessed the case and closed it, citing insufficient evidence of neglect. An autopsy later confirmed that Dev’Kumar died from starvation and dehydration.
During the sentencing, the assistant district attorney criticized Strait for neglecting her child’s needs. Strait acknowledged her wrongdoings and expressed remorse while stating the child’s death would impact her for life.
Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara expressed disbelief at Strait prioritizing her and her boyfriend’s needs while their infant was suffering. Keys is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on November 20.
