Father pleads guilty in child starvation case

DEXTER, Mo. (AP) - A southeast Missouri man faces sentencing April 20 after pleading guilty to charges for failing to feed his infant daughter.

The Poplar Bluff Daily American Republic reports that 19-year-old Vabian Webb of Dexter pleaded guilty last week to endangering the welfare of a child.

Webb and the child's mother, Amanda Knight Garrett, were accused of failing to feed their daughter formula. The girl, who has Down Syndrome, was removed from the family home in June. At the time she was nearly 3 months old and weighed less than 6 pounds.

Garrett was placed on probation in February after pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of a child.

Authorities say the child lives with foster parents and her weight is up to 22 pounds.

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Information from: Daily American Republic, http://www.darnews.com