2 charged with baby’s death in central Florida

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) – Lakeland Police have arrested an Indiana couple on first-degree murder charges in connection with an infant’s death.

Investigators say the couple let their 22-day-old baby starve to death.

The 22-day-old baby, Betsey Kee Stephens, was found dead on Dec. 23.

The parents, 23-year-old Ruby, 23, and 48-year-old Roy Stephens told police they had just arrived from Tennyson, Indiana, and found the baby unresponsive when they checked on her as they stopped at a restaurant to eat.

Police say the baby’s siblings, a 1-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, both appeared to be in good health. The children are now in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The parents were in Lakeland to visit family.

Roy Stephens is not the biological father.