Utah parents get up to 30 years after toddler starved on waffle diet in filthy crib: records

A Utah nurse and her husband were sentenced to prison after their 18-month-old daughter died of malnutrition, according to court records.

Carrie Murray and Mitchell Murray, both 32, lived in Nibley, Utah, where she worked as a nurse and he worked from home.

The toddler, Ruby Murray, died on March 19, 2025, inside the family’s home, records show.

The 18-month-old weighed about 17 pounds at the time of her death, according to the medical examiner.

Complications of malnutrition and dehydration caused the child’s death, the medical examiner determined.

Cameras inside the residence recorded the girl crying, whimpering and gasping during her final night, court records state.

Across four days of footage, the toddler spent little more than six hours outside her crib, records show. Another person was present for less than 50 minutes total, according to court documents.

On the day before Ruby died, nobody took her out of the crib or changed her diaper, court records show.

She had just 49 seconds of interaction with her parents and sibling combined that day, according to the records.

The child was fed mostly waffles, investigators said.

Investigators found old food inside the crib, along with trash, wrappers and waffle pieces beneath the mattress, court documents state.

A mesh cover prevented Ruby from climbing out, while a space heater warmed the room and loud music interfered with her sleep, records show.

Mitchell told investigators he spent much of his time on his computer, including playing games. He called days when his daughter stayed in her crib all day “crib days” and said they happened one or two days a week, according to court records.

Carrie admitted she had not checked the baby-monitor app in months, court documents state.

The mother called 911 after finding Ruby dead in her crib, police said.

Carrie declined dispatchers’ instructions to attempt lifesaving measures, saying she believed the toddler was beyond help. Rigor mortis appeared to have set in, paramedics reported.

During the investigation, Carrie said, “I feel no guilt over this.”

Both parents later apologized, and Carrie acknowledged responsibility for Ruby’s death, court records show.

The couple originally faced aggravated murder charges before pleading guilty on July 2 to child abuse homicide and aggravated child abuse, according to court records.

Each defendant received two consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison, allowing up to 30 years each, with credit for 283 days already served, records show.

Both parents must also register on the child abuse registry, according to court records.