A special place in Hell is reserved for these two

Parents face murder charges in death of infant in Lakeland

By TBO.com staff

Roy Stephens, left, and Ruby Stephens have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of their 22-day-old infant in Lakeland. POLK COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

Two parents have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of their 22-day-old infant in Lakeland.
Betsey Kee Stephens was found unresponsive in her car seat last week in the parking lot of Golden Corral, 4705 U.S. 98 N., when her parents — Ruby Angeline Stephens, 23, and Roy Allen Stephens, 48 — went inside to eat, police said.
A medical examiner determined the infant died of malnutrition as a result of starvation, and the parents were taken into custody, police said.
Police said the parents, who had driven to Lakeland from their home in Tennyson, Indiana, with their three children to visit family, called 911 from the parking lot about 6:10 p.m. after checking on the infant and getting no response.
A preliminary investigation indicated the girl had died at least 3 1⁄2 hours before the mother called 911, police said.
The girl’s siblings, a 1-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl, are in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families but appeared to be in good health, police said.