Perth Parents Who Starved Their Ballerina Daughter on a Strict Vegan Diet Until She Was a ‘Wafer-Thin’ 28KG Learn Their Fate

A teenager, once a passionate dancer and full of potential, was reduced to a skeletal figure weighing just 28 kilograms by the time she was 17. Her parents, seemingly oblivious to the danger, continued to subject her to a strict vegan diet and isolated lifestyle. It wasn’t until concerned teachers and medical professionals intervened that the true extent of the neglect was revealed. The parents were convicted for recklessly endangering their daughter’s health, leaving behind a devastating tale of denial, control, and misguided love.

The Daughter’s Plea for Mercy and Her Struggles with the Court Outcome

In 2021, after a prolonged period of neglect, the parents of a 17-year-old girl were found guilty of recklessly putting her health at risk. From 2019 to 2021, they withheld the necessary care that could have saved her from deteriorating further. Despite multiple warnings from medical professionals and concerned individuals, they failed to address her severe malnutrition and emotional isolation. The court highlighted their refusal to provide adequate nutrition, their disregard for her medical needs, and the lack of social support crucial for her development into a healthy adult.

The Strict Vegan Diet and Isolated Lifestyle That Led to Starvation

At 17, the ballerina’s weight had dropped to just 27.3 kilograms, a direct result of her parents’ strict vegan diet and their effort to keep her isolated. They controlled her food intake, offering a limited selection of organic foods while denying her the proper balance of nutrients. Her daily life was confined mainly to dance practice and homeschooling, cutting her off from typical social experiences. Teachers and medical professionals raised concerns about her health, but her parents insisted she was okay. Her mother said, “My daughter was completely fine.” They refused to acknowledge the severity of her condition, even as she continued to waste away.

The parents also refused to let their daughter have an ECG because it was “too intrusive.” When told the girl was at risk of death or cardiac arrest, the father allegedly laughed off the suggestion. Their refusal to acknowledge the gravity of the situation prevented her from receiving the care she urgently needed.

Medical Professionals and Community Members Attempt to Intervene

Doctors and community members raised repeated concerns about the girl’s severe weight loss, stunted growth, and social isolation. They observed her lack of peer interaction and delayed development. Despite these clear warning signs, her parents dismissed medical advice to seek treatment. The father insisted she was on a “fantastic diet.” He claimed she had “good energy” and was dancing up to eight hours a week, assuring child protection workers that she was “getting stronger” and had no health concerns. The parents told the GP she typically ate organic pears, organic strawberries, minestrone, and ice cream.

After dance teachers and the parents of some fellow students lodged complaints with Western Australia’s Department of Communities, the department opened an active investigation in late 2020. Despite these interventions, the parents’ refusal to acknowledge the gravity of the situation prevented their daughter from receiving the care she urgently needed.

Court Reveals the Depth of Parental Denial and Deception

Judge Linda Black condemned the parents for their willful blindness, pointing out their ongoing attempts to deceive medical professionals and authorities. Despite clear evidence of their daughter’s malnutrition and distress, they continuously denied the severity of her condition. In the court, Judge Black said, “I simply do not and cannot accept that the two of you needed someone to point out to you that your daughter was starving, that she was fading away. That she was failing to grow, that she was failing to thrive. You engaged in willful blindness of the most extreme kind.”

Judge Black also noted the girl’s stunted growth, highlighting that at age six, she weighed just 14kg, and at 13, only 21kg. By age 17, she weighed the same as an average nine-year-old. Judge Black said, “She was obviously chronically malnourished. Neither of you were starved or malnourished… therefore I can only conclude that you knew how to make sure you had enough food but you failed to do the same for your daughter.”

Her parents gave her a Barbie doll for her 17th birthday in the hospital and tried to organize a Disney Princess visit. Judge Black said, “By the time your 17-year-old daughter was hospitalised despite your protests she was watching Tellytubbies… Thomas the Tank Engine and having princess birthday parties.”

The judge also mentioned that the couple lacked remorse and credibility and were evasive during their lengthy trial. She said, “endeavouring to obscure the obvious truth even when it was staring them in the face.” Their lies and refusal to seek help prolonged their daughter’s suffering, worsening her condition. The judge emphasized that their actions had betrayed their duty to protect her, leading to irreversible harm that could not be undone.

The Girl’s Hospitalization and Forced Medical Intervention

After much resistance from the parents, doctors at Perth Children’s Hospital admitted the girl, diagnosing her with grade 4 malnutrition. Despite initial objections from the parents, the medical team proceeded with a care plan. Slowly, her condition began to improve, but her parents’ continuous interference hindered her recovery. They attempted to control her treatment, making it difficult for medical professionals to provide the necessary care. Still, the medical team remained resolute in restoring her health.

Doctors at the hospital ordered X-rays and inserted a nasogastric feeding tube for five days before implementing a meal plan. The parents opposed the treatment, arguing that the girl was naturally slender and had been a premature baby. They even supervised her toilet visits during her hospital stay and requested to sleep near her, a request that was denied.

Hospital staff observed concerning behaviors, including the mother setting a timer for the girl to brush her teeth and only allowing her to spit with permission. During her stay, the girl was legally taken into the care of the WA Department of Communities, and her treatment was enforced.

Throughout her 50-day hospitalization, the girl gained 7kg and grew 3.4cm. However, some hospital workers noted that she was treated like a small child, watching children’s shows such as The Wiggles, The Teletubbies, and Thomas the Tank Engine. Her schoolwork and piano skills assessments revealed no cognitive impairment despite these observations.

The Psychological Toll and Court’s Harsh Words for the Parents

The daughter’s letter to the court brought a heart-wrenching perspective to the case, revealing the psychological toll years of neglect had taken on her. Despite this, the court heard their daughter had written to the court last year pleading for the prosecution to drop its case against them.

Judge Black said, reading from the letter, “I will have nowhere to live and I will end up homeless. I’m becoming stressed, anxious and worried about the possibility of my parents going to prison.”

The girl said she was responsible for the position her parents were in. The letter said, “I love my parents very much. They are the most important people in my life. If my parents go to prison, I don’t think I will be able to cope.”

Judge Black did not hold back in her criticism of the parents. She pointed out how their controlling behavior and refusal to acknowledge their daughter’s needs left her struggling to function as an adult. The court emphasized how the years of manipulation and neglect caused lasting emotional scars, leaving the young woman with a sense of confusion and dependency. Judge Black told the girl’s parents that it was their fault that their daughter felt this way. She said, “You have created a child who was not able to function as an adult at the age of more than 20 years of age.”

The Sentencing and the Future of the Family

The court sentenced the father to six years and six months in prison, while the mother received a five-year sentence. Despite the severity of the punishment, the daughter’s emotional plea for mercy for her parents showed the depth of her internal conflict. While she sought justice for the suffering she endured, she also carried the heavy emotional weight of wanting to protect her parents. The scars from this ordeal will likely stay with her, affecting her future relationships and emotional well-being. She had fear about ending up homeless. The family’s road to healing remains uncertain, as the consequences of years of neglect are not easily erased.

The Lasting Impact of Neglect and the Need for Change

Neglect can leave lasting scars that affect a child’s physical health and emotional stability. Although the parents’ sentences provide some form of justice, they cannot undo the damage done to their daughter. The case underscores the need for better awareness and intervention in situations of parental neglect. It highlights the importance of addressing emotional and psychological abuse alongside physical harm. As society moves forward, it must recognize these challenges and take steps to prevent similar suffering for other vulnerable children.