Tragic Neglect: Adoptive Couple’s Repeated Cancellations Lead to Child’s Starvation

In a tragic case of neglect, an Ohio boy lost his life due to the actions of his adoptive parents, who have now admitted their culpability in court.

Demetres Givens, 43, and Jamie Thompson, 38, confessed to charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment related to the demise of 3-year-old Berko Givens. As reported by The Repository, a local news source, the couple—Givens being Berko’s uncle—had previously sought medical attention for the boy’s ailments. However, when advised by doctors to immediately seek further medical care if his condition did not improve, the prosecutors noted that “They did not do that, for whatever reason.”

Tragically, Berko succumbed to starvation on May 5, 2025.

According to court records obtained by NBC affiliate WKYC, authorities were dispatched to the residence of Givens and Thompson in Canton at 9:30 a.m. on that fateful day. Thompson informed 911 operators that upon attempting to wake Berko, she discovered him unresponsive and surrounded by vomit in his crib.

Berko was urgently transported to the hospital, where he was declared deceased.

Thompson reportedly told police that Berko had issues with food and that she and Givens had reached out to Stark County Job and Family Services for help. According to the criminal complaint, police later found out that the couple were told to bring Berko to a pediatrician, but “refused to engaged with medical professionals and cancelled multiple appointments over a several-month period.” The complaint further stated that the couple “cruelly tortured” Berko by “refusing to properly feed and care for him.”

Police obtained arrest warrants for Thompson and Givens on charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, but they were nowhere to be found. They were eventually apprehended outside Stark County by U.S. Marshals and surrendered.

Both Thompson and Givens pleaded guilty to the charges against them. During their sentencing hearing on Feb. 20, both defendants expressed remorse for their actions, or, as Thompson’s defense attorney Jacob Will described it, their lack of action. Will told the court, “This was a crime of omission, not a crime of commission.”

Givens’ defense attorney Keith Warstler told the court that Berko’s condition was birth-related, and Givens had expressed “extreme remorse” over what happened to his nephew.

Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Daniel Petricini said Berko was the biological son of Givens’ sister, Myracle Givens, who lost custody of the boy when he was born. Givens lobbied for custody of Berko while he and Thompson had children of their own. Petricini told the court, “I can understand being overwhelmed,” but added that “they were also aware that there are social services available. There are resources available in the communities to help families who are struggling, and that could have helped them.”

In an interview with WKYC, Myracle Givens said, “If they diagnosed [Berko] with malnutrition and his appointments were being canceled after the fact…. I don’t understand. Like, why weren’t these people turned in? I don’t get that.”

Before handing down her sentence, Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin Farmer told the couple, “At some point, each of you ignored or disregarded medical advice and basic intuition and chose to let the victim suffer.”

Thompson and Givens were both sentenced to eight to 12 years in prison.