An Alabama man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for starving his two-month-old baby to death in what prosecutors described as “agonising” neglect.
Kristopher Matthews, 40, was convicted of aggravated child abuse in August after jurors heard how his newborn son Karson wasted away from 6lb 2oz at birth to significantly less within two months. Prosecutor C.J. Robinson said the infant’s dramatic weight loss was a clear sign of prolonged starvation.
In an interview with police, Matthews admitted he never fed the baby and even claimed he had no duty to do so “because he was the father.” He also never took Karson to a doctor after the child’s discharge from hospital.
Photos shown in court, Robinson said, looked “like scenes from a horror movie,” with the boy reduced to “a dirty, skin-covered skeleton – a haunting image no one will ever forget.”
Karson’s mother, Shirley Matthews, was separately convicted of aggravated child abuse in July 2024 and received the same 20-year sentence. “Kristopher and Shirley Matthews completely destroyed the life of their baby boy by neglecting his existence until he died,” Robinson said. “The suffering and agonizing death of this baby was completely avoidable.”
Presiding Judge Amanda Baxley called the case “horrific” at sentencing. “I wish I could sentence you to more than 20 years, but the law at the time of this offence handcuffed both the prosecution and me,” she said, noting Alabama has since strengthened penalties for similar crimes.
The shocking case came as Milwaukee police revealed a separate incident where six children, including a two-month-old, were rescued from a locked storage unit. A 26-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man have been arrested on child abuse and neglect charges. Authorities said the children, aged from two months to nine years, did not suffer physical injuries during their confinement.
