Parents sentenced to five years for son’s death

Published 10:08 am Friday, January 11, 2019

The parents of a Down Syndrome child who died of malnutrition were sentenced to five years each Thursday.

Albert and Patsy Christy, of 340 Schoolhouse Lane, were both arrested for murder after an autopsy showed their 20-year-old son Logan died Dec. 12, 2017, weighing 61 pounds and had nothing in his stomach. Last month, they pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of reckless homicide.

Patsy Christy’s attorney Valetta Browne argued for probation, saying they have already served about a year in jail and would be eligible to meet the parole board soon.

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“They will punish themselves more than this court can,” she said. “They pleaded guilty, acknowledged their role in the tragic death of their son.”

Thursday, Clark Circuit Judge Brandy Oliver Brown denied probation for them.

“It would be unfair to the victim, in my opinion, and to the community standard … to do anything other than to impose the sentence,” Brown said.

During their hearing in December, Albert Christy admitted not taking Logan to the doctor after he turned 18 and not making sure he was fed.

“I feel guilty because I should have taken him to the doctor,” Pasty Christy said in December. “I just failed.”

In court documents, detectives said Logan’s room was nearly uninhabitable and he only received fluids from a sippy cup.

The autopsy determined Logan died from malnutrition, dehydration and pneumonia.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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