When Kimberly Sullivan was born July 14 in Tucson, Arizona, she weighed in at a healthy 7 pounds, 12 ounces. Six weeks later, when little Kimberly died, she weighed only 5 pounds 7 ounces, allowed to starve to death by her mother.
The tragic story came to light on Aug. 30, when someone called 911 to report that a child was unresponsive.
Police officers describe the baby as having a sunken face, loose skin, an indentation on her head, and bones protruding through her skin over much of her body. "The whole skeletal frame of the child was clearly showing under the skin," one investigator said. "It’s beyond belief somebody would do that to a child."
Terri Lynn Sullivan, 26, said she starved little Kimberly from the time she was 11 days old, to Aug. 30, the day she and her husband, Scott David Sullivan, 27, were arrested in the case. No reason was given for their behavior in the initial police documents.
Terri Lynn said her husband was concerned about the health of the child, but did nothing to seek medical care.
The two have been charged with child abuse. They could be charged with other crimes, including homicide. A decision on whether to seek additional charges and what charges to seek will be made after an autopsy is complete. At initial court appearances, Terri Sullivan was ordered held in lieu of $750,000 bail and Scott Sullivan was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail. Neither parent is listed in has a criminal history, a drug or alcohol problem or has shown violent or assaultive behavior in the past.