"Crib Days"
An 18-month-old girl spent almost her entire final four days alone in a crib before dying from malnutrition and dehydration.
Sources: KSL News, PEOPLE, KUTV
There are stories that make you question how something like this could happen at the hands of one person, let alone several.
This is one of them.
According to KSL News, PEOPLE, and KUTV, Mitchell and Carrie Murray have pleaded guilty to child abuse homicide in the death of their 18-month-old daughter, Ruby Marie Murray.
Investigators say Ruby died from complications of malnutrition and dehydration after enduring what they described as a severe pattern of neglect.
The details are almost impossible to wrap your head around.
According to court documents, Ruby spent just over six hours out of her crib during the final four days of her life.
Detectives say another human being was physically present with her for only 49 minutes and 15 seconds during that entire period.
Her father reportedly referred to them as “crib days,” explaining that Ruby would remain in her crib while he worked from home.
March 18 was allegedly one of those days.
According to investigators, Ruby was never taken out of her crib.
Her diaper wasn’t changed.
The total interaction she had with her parents and sibling that day lasted just 49 seconds.
Investigators also say Ruby’s room was noticeably hotter than the rest of the home because of a nearby space heater. Her crib, which had been covered with mesh to keep her from climbing out, reportedly contained old scraps of food.
Throughout her final night, security footage allegedly captured Ruby crying, whimpering, and gasping.
She weighed approximately 17 pounds when she died.
One of the most difficult details to process is that Ruby's mother was a nurse. People enter that profession to care for the sick and vulnerable, which makes the allegations in this case even harder to comprehend.
According to court records cited by PEOPLE, she called 911 to report that Ruby was “beyond help” and allegedly refused to perform lifesaving measures before first responders arrived.
I can’t even begin to imagine that level of apathy.
As a parent, I keep coming back to one thing.
Forty-nine minutes.
That’s less time than it takes to watch a show.
During the last four days of her life, Ruby spent more time alone than she did being held, comforted, talked to, or cared for.
I don’t know how anyone reads that without feeling physically ill.
For this story, I wanted to highlight Childhelp, which operates the National Child Abuse Hotline.
One of the hardest truths about child abuse and neglect is that children often cannot save themselves. They depend entirely on adults to notice something is wrong and step in before it’s too late.
If you ever suspect a child is being abused or neglected, trust your instincts and say something. Childhelp’s hotline is available 24 hours a day for anyone who needs guidance, wants to report concerns, or simply isn’t sure what to do.
Ruby deserved adults who would protect her.
Every child does.