Herbert George Landell, 26, and and Lauren Heather Fristed, 25, brought their emaciated newborn baby to a local hospital in Georgia, America.
Their 10-week-old baby girl was already dead.
“Babies should not drink water until they are at least 6 months old"
According to USA Today, the couple refused to get their daughter medical treatment, despite the fact that she had been rapidly losing weight since birth.
They had reportedly been watering down the breast milk they’d been feeding her, which had caused the baby’s electrolyte and sodium levels to drop and made her brain swell.
“Babies should not drink water until they are at least 6 months old,” said Dr. Sujatha Reddy, a physician at Premier Care for Women in Atlanta.
“Between 6 and 12 months, babies can drink small amounts of water, but no more than 1 to 3 ounces at a time.
“However, because water has no nutritional value, babies should drink breast milk or formula first.”
Signs of water toxicity include grogginess, confusion, drowsiness, twitching and seizures.
Landell has been charged with murder and aggravated battery by depriving.
Friste, meanwhile, has been charged with aggravated battery by depriving, first degree cruelty to children, and second degree cruelty to children.
Neither are eligible for bail.