TAVARES, FL – An unsettling case in Florida has culminated in prison sentences for two parents who neglected their infant daughter to the point of death. Margaret Elizabeth Lehman, 27, and Mark Edward Brittian Jr., 30, will serve 13 years and 13 years and three months in prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to aggravated manslaughter for the tragic death of their 11-month-old daughter, Marcelyn Brittian.
The case, filled with details of extreme neglect, emerged when Leesburg police were called to respond to a distressing scene on September 2, 2021. In the early hours of that morning, officers found Marcelyn unresponsive. The girl was taken to a hospital nearby; however, she was soon pronounced dead.
Prosecutors in Florida shared troubling findings from the hospital. Marcelyn was severely underweight, weighing just 13 pounds—a figure alarmingly low for her age. Her physical condition was described as “extremely underweight and underdeveloped.” Also, the little girl had dirt and dried feces covering her body, with severe bruising and sores observed.
A deeper investigation into the parents’ home painted a grim picture. Detectives noted an overpowering stench of garbage and rot upon entering. The home’s condition was described by officers as mirroring that of a hoarding scenario, with Marcelyn’s playpen lacking basic bedding essentials.
Even with these appalling circumstances, Lehman and Brittian insisted to detectives that Marcelyn had been “happy and healthy.” They attributed her lack of appetite and weight issues to a mild fever she allegedly had in the days preceding her death. Despite their claims, a subsequent autopsy tragically revealed that the infant had been starved for at least two to three days.
Further compounding the neglect, Lehman reported that Brittian rarely contributed to feeding or caring for Marcelyn, and it was later discovered that Brittian had tested positive for cocaine.
State Attorney Bill Gladson expressed outrage over the case, underscoring the heinous nature of the crime against such a vulnerable child. “At least in prison,” he stated, “these parents will receive the nourishment they denied their child.”
The little girl’s death also prompted action concerning other children in the household. A second child, present in the home when police responded, has been safely placed under the care of relatives, ensuring they avoid a similar fate.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the expectations of parental responsibility and the tragic consequences that can arise from neglect.