Arizona couple charged with murder in death of malnourished toddler daughter

By Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

September 15, 2020 at 2:59 am EDT

YUMA, Ariz. — An Arizona couple has been charged with first-degree murder after their 23-month-old daughter died over the weekend, authorities said.

According to KYMA-TV, police arrested James Layton Givens, 39, and Jamie McBride, 28, both of Yuma, after crews responded to a report that a toddler was having trouble breathing shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday. The girl was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, Yuma police said in a Facebook post Monday.

HOMICIDE Case: 2020- 50428 Yuma, AZ - On Sunday, September 13, 2020 at approximately 4:44 p.m., Yuma Police...
Posted by Yuma Police Department on Monday, September 14, 2020

Investigators said the malnourished child’s weight may have been as low as 10 pounds, KYMA reported. Three more malnourished children also lived with the couple, authorities said.

Givens and McBride are being held on a $1 million bond each, according to KYMA.

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