Post by Joanna on Feb 8, 2015 16:11:31 GMT -5
Pregnant Stripper Charged in Starvation of Infant
SMYRNA, Tenn. – A pregnant mother is accused of starving her 2-month-old son to death. On April 8, 2014, Brittany Wiest's boyfriend, Michael Withers, called 911. "A baby, something's wrong with our baby. We need an ambulance now," Withers said. "He's cold and he's not moving." Withers, who is not the child's father, said he and Brittany Wiest awakened to find 59-day-old Anakin Wiest unresponsive.
Anakin was dead and appeared emaciated. The autopsy results took months. The cause of death was ultimately deemed starvation and dehydration.
Police arrested Brittany Wiest and charged her with aggravated neglect, abuse and murder Wednesday, February 4. Anakin weighed less than six pounds at birth and his weight at death, 60 days later, was less than five pounds.
Brittany Wiest works as an adult entertainer in Nashville and police said she has a 2-year-old son who is perfectly cared for and healthy. That child is now in the custody of the Dept. of Children's Services. Brittany Wiest also has a baby girl on the way. She is currently 24-weeks pregnant.
"We are asking the same question. How could you ever do that?" said Detective Rick Hall of the Smyrna police. "But I think people find themselves in situations or in lifestyles that other things get neglected, and I think that's what we're looking at in this case."
Police said Anakin's biological father was never in the picture. Withers, who broke up with Brittany Wiest, is not facing any charges. "It's still an open and ongoing investigation, so there could be more charges that could come out of this," Hall said.
In an interview, Steve Anderson, the father of Brittany Wiest's unborn child, said: "I became friends with Brittany in May. We started dating in July. Up until yesterday, Brittany and I both thought the child died of SIDS. I wasn't in the picture back then. My main priority is the welfare of my child and my main goal is getting custody of my baby girl."
A spokesperson for DCS said the agency is involved and aware of the situation. According to the spokesperson, each family is handled on a case-by-case basis, but ultimately, it’s up to Juvenile Court to decide what will happen to a child.
Police said DCS had investigated Brittany Wiest in the past, but the spokesperson declined to elaborate on former cases.
Source: WSMV News, February 5, 2015.
