COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A Colorado Springs couple accused of starving their 14-year-old son has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Tonya and Brian Ricks pleaded guilty in July to child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury and failure to provide medical attention.
They were sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday. The maximum sentence would have been 32 years.
According to court documents, the boy was severely malnourished. He weighed only 52.3 pounds, the average weight of a 7-year-old, when investigators found him.
The boy also had a seizure disorder and was not receiving proper medical care.
Documents show back in 2005 the Ricks' pulled their children from public school and failed to provide an adequate education. Then, five years later the Crimes Against Children Unit executed a search warrant. The detective working the case explains that neither of the two bathrooms in the home contain routine items like toilet paper, wash cloths or shampoo. The refrigerator was also dirty and had uncovered containers of food.
The detective said the best way to describe the kitchen would be "an illusion" because although the floor, counter and sink appeared to be picked up and clean, the insides of various cabinets were dirty.
Investigators had been looking into the welfare of the Ricks' six kids for years while they lived in the 4300 block of Chestnut Street. They also have five daughters, all of whom required medical and dental care as well as therapy upon being discovered, but none in nearly as poor condition as the son.
All six are now in foster care.
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