ERIE COUNTY, OHIO - An 18-month-old disabled boy starved to death in November.
Now his mom, dad, and grandmother are facing involuntary manslaughter charges.
The suspects appeared in Erie County Court in Sandusky on Thursday.
All three entered not guilty pleas to all counts in court today.
The prosecutor says if they're convicted, each could face up to 30 years in prison.
The windows are blacked out at the Vermilion home where an 18 month old boy named Isaac Brothers-Bartholomew died in November from malnourishment and dehydration.
"That's horrible," says Rita Sexton, who lives across the street. "You don't let a child lay and die."
Sexton and her neighbors are shocked that Isaac died and four of his older siblings were hospitalized for malnutrition as well.
"If we had known that kids was hungry we would've given them whatever we could've. You just don't let kids go hungry," says Sexton.
In Erie County Court, Isaac's mom and dad, 35-year-old Adrienne Bartholomew and 33 year-old James Brothers, as well as the grandma 62-year-old Debra Nelson, pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter, endangering children, and patient endangerment.
Erie County Prosecutor Kevin Baxter says Nelson, who is Brothers' mom, was also a paid nurse in the home because several of the kids suffered from medical issues.
Baxter says little Isaac weighed only 12 pounds when he died.
"Either they weren't fed or that there was some type of organic or genetic problem which would've required some medical attention and therefore either way there is criminal liability associated with that because there is a duty of care," says Baxter.
Baxter says the family had attention from Children Services in Cuyahoga County based on medical neglect, and that case transferred to Erie County when they moved here.
"That case expired in 2009," says Baxter.
Sexton says she "hardly ever" saw the kids outside the home in Vermilion.
She says the family moved in across the street about four years ago and she did see pizza get delivered there regularly.
"I think they got some problems. I know he smoked, I don't know if anyone else did. But you got money for cigarettes, you need to have money for your kids food," says Sexton.
Two of the kids remain in the hospital. All of the couple's children are now being placed in foster homes.
Bartholomew, Brothers, and Nelson will again appear in court on February 4th.
They're each being held in the Erie County Jail on more than a quarter million dollars bond.
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