Father sentenced in Stoddard County infant starvation case

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Dexter, Mo., man charged with starving his infant daughter was sentenced Wednesday.

Vabian Webb, 19, was arrested in early June on Stoddard County warrants for endangering the welfare of a child and child abuse.

He appeared for sentencing Wednesday and was given a five-year suspended sentence, taking into account that he has served nearly 11 months in the county jail to date.

Webb, along with the child's mother, Amanda Knight Garrett, were accused of neglecting their 3-month-old daughter by not feeding her or caring for her properly.

Garrett recently pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and was given a suspended sentence, along with four years of supervised probation including several special conditions.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed in Stoddard County court at the time of the arrest, Dexter assistant police chief Charles Sanders stated he could see the infant's ribs and collarbone and the child's skin was loose and sagging on her arms and legs.

Officials report that the child continues to thrive and has been adopted by a local family.

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield, MO

Dexter, MO