Authorities in Arizona have charged Tremaure Stanley, 25, and Janiece Brooks, 26, after their dietary and medical choices, shaped largely by online misinformation about “alkaline diets” and distrust of conventional healthcare allegedly led to the death of their 5-month-old infant and left three other children suffering from severe malnutrition, rickets, osteopenia, vitamin D deficiency, and significant developmental delays, according to police affidavits and court records.
Police discovered the infant unresponsive in the couple’s Phoenix home in July 2023, and subsequent hospital evaluation of the siblings revealed chronic nutritional deficits linked to long-term dietary restriction. Prosecutors have charged the couple with first-degree felony murder and four counts of child abuse, alleging they knowingly placed their children in danger by eliminating essential foods and medical care.
Although the infant’s death occurred in July 2023, the case has returned to national attention in December 2025 following fresh court proceedings, including updated prosecution movements and potential plea negotiations.
Stanley and Brooks were offered a potential plea agreement carrying a 16-year prison sentence, but if the case proceeds to trial, they face the possibility of life in prison or the death penalty under Arizona’s sentencing statutes. Court records show the couple believed the children’s rapid weight loss was a sign that the diet was “removing toxins,” rather than a medical emergency.
The “alkaline diet” is based on the idea that certain foods affect the body’s pH, and that eating more “alkaline” foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts) while avoiding “acidic” foods (dairy, meat, grains) can promote health by preventing acidity-related diseases. Proponents often extend the principle to drinking alkaline water.
While the diet gained popularity through online wellness communities and social media for promises of detoxification, weight management, and disease prevention, medical experts note that the human body tightly regulates blood pH through the lungs and kidneys. There is no credible clinical evidence that diet meaningfully alters systemic pH in healthy individuals.
Dr. D. Srikanth, Senior Consultant Pediatrician & Neonatologist, Yashoda Hospitals, explains the risks plainly:
“Alkaline diets, including alkaline water and restrictive food regimens, may be harmless for adults, but when applied to infants or children, they become dangerous. Removing essential proteins, fats, dairy, grains deprive a child of crucial nutrients needed for growth and brain development.”
"Infants and young children require adequate calories, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals for organ growth, brain development, immune function, and metabolic regulation."
He further explains that, strictly eliminating major food groups can result in:
Protein-energy malnutrition (e.g., kwashiorkor, marasmus), leading to wasting, edema, and stunted growth
Fat deficiency - affecting brain and cell development (brain tissue is largely composed of fat).
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies - leading to anemia, weak immunity, developmental delays
Electrolyte imbalance and metabolic crises - because infants’ kidneys and regulatory systems are immature and they cannot handle these fad diets.
When combined with avoidance of proven infant nutrition (breast milk or formula), such diets can quickly lead to life-threatening malnutrition.
Pediatricians and nutrition experts emphasize that during infancy and early childhood:
Breast milk or formula remains the primary source of nutrition for infants.
As children grow, balanced diets including proteins, healthy fats, carbohydrates, dairy, and micronutrients are essential.
Extreme or unverified diets, especially those excluding major nutrient sources pose high risk.
Dietary changes should be supervised by healthcare professionals; DIY restrictive diets based on trending fads are especially risky for young, growing bodies.
In the Arizona case, experts note that parental reliance on online dietary misinformation and rejection of medical guidance may have contributed to preventable harm, according to court records and clinical findings.
He emphasizes that infants require 100–120 calories per kilogram per day, along with adequate protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Because their kidneys and immune systems are still developing, even short periods of extreme or restrictive diets, such as alkaline, raw, fruit-only, or homemade formula regimens can quickly lead to catastrophic health consequences, including permanent developmental damage or death. He stresses that misinformation-driven dietary practices pose serious risks and that caregivers should rely on established infant-nutrition guidelines.
If caregivers are concerned about diet, immunity, or “toxins,” experts recommend:
Consult a pediatrician before making any dietary changes for infants or young children
Follow established infant feeding guidelines, including breast milk or formula as primary nutrition
Be cautious of diet trends promoted on social media, especially those discouraging medical care
Seek credible sources, such as pediatric associations or registered dietitians
Treat weight loss, feeding difficulty, or developmental delay as medical emergencies, not detox signs
Medical professionals stress that no wellness trend replaces evidence-based pediatric care.
The tragic death of an infant and the severe malnutrition in his siblings after following an extreme alkaline diet should serve as a powerful warning. Dietary trends, no matter how popular they become, cannot replace medically grounded nutrition, especially for vulnerable infants and children.
