5 Year Old Dead After Being Forced To Drink Soda

Alexa Lindbloom, 5, Dead After Parents Force Her To Drink Over 2 Liters Of Soda & Water As Punishment

Facts:

Alexa Vaughn School Picture

• Parents, Randall and Mary Vaughn, were arraigned in Hawkins Co., Tennessee on Friday
• Alexa was taken to the emergency room on January 1, 2012 and was later pronounced dead on January 3, 2012
• The massive liquid intake caused her brain to swell and hemorrhage causing her death

Two people, Randall Lee and Mary Lavonne Vaughn, were jailed and charged with murder last week in connection with the death of Alexa Rae Vaughn.

Alexa Vaughn Family Picture

According to autopsy reports, the couple allegedly force fed the 5 year old over 2 liters of soda over a one to two hour time period back in January of 2012 as punishment. This caused the sodium levels to drop and her brain to swell. They were arraigned this past Friday and charged with murder.  No plea was entered. Mary Vaughn was said to have retained a public defender, while Randall is said to be retaining a private lawyer.

Alexa Linboom was forced to guzzle the fluids after she took "one or two grape drinks" that belonged to her stepmother, District Attorney Berkley Bell told WJHL news channel 11. In addition to the soda drinking, she also was subjected to other forms of punishment, but Bell didn't elaborate.

Randall Lee Vaughn Mugshot

"They also failed to take care of the child once she was injured. Our position is it was a matter of several hours after the child started exhibiting serious symptoms, after the child was screaming out in pain, went into a paralyzed state, and became unconscious [that they sought help,]" Bell said.

A two-year investigation determined her death was a homicide as a result of acute fluid/water intoxication, the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office said in a statement this week.


Randall Lee Vaughn, 41, and and his wife, Mary Lavonne Vaughn, 58, have each been charged with first degree murder, two counts of aggravated child neglect and aggravated child abuse. The couple could face anywhere from 60 years in prison to the deat
h penalty if found guilty of first degree murder. They could also face up to 20 years each for the aggravated child abuse charges.

Mary Lavonne Vaughn Mugshot

According to one report, the girl had moved to Tennessee to live with her biological father just 3 months prior. There were accusations of neglect at her previous home, believed to be with her mother.

Tennessee has a law that states that if a child dies because of child abuse, the accused are automatically charged with first degree murder.

They are both scheduled to be back in court for their pretrial hearing on April, 30. Their trial was set for October,  20.