Infant had not eaten in days: Medical examiner
Margaret Elizabeth Lehman, 27, and Mark Edward Brittian Jr., 30, were convicted in the death of their 11-month-old daughter, Marcelyn Brittian.
Judge Cary F. Rada sentenced Lehman to 13 years in prison and Brittian to 13 years and three months. Prosecutors charged both with aggravated manslaughter after their daughter was found unresponsive in their Leesburg home in September 2021.
When officers arrived, they discovered the infant in a playpen, covered in dirt and dried feces. The home was in poor condition, filled with a strong odor of garbage and rotting food.
Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures, but Marcelyn was pronounced dead at the hospital. A medical examiner determined she had been severely malnourished and had not eaten for two to three days. Authorities removed a 3-year-old child from the home and placed them with family members.
What we don’t know: It remains unclear why the couple did not seek medical help before their daughter’s death. Investigators found that Brittian made two phone calls before dialing 911, though the content of those calls has not been disclosed.
The backstory: The case began in September 2021 when Leesburg Police responded to a report of an unresponsive infant. Upon arrival, officers found the home in unsanitary conditions and discovered Marcelyn severely malnourished in a playpen. Despite emergency efforts, she could not be revived.
Investigators later determined the infant had been deprived of food for days. Lehman and Brittian initially claimed both of their children were healthy and well cared for, but medical reports contradicted their statements, revealing Marcelyn was severely undernourished.
Following an investigation, authorities arrested the couple, and prosecutors pursued aggravated manslaughter charges. Assistant State Attorney Gabriel Lozano led the prosecution, while Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson condemned their actions after the sentencing.
What they’re saying: Bill Gladson, State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, condemned the couple’s actions in a statement after the sentencing.
“This is disgusting, the most vulnerable of our society has been victimized by the most evil. At least in prison, they’ll both receive food, unlike their innocent child,” Gladson said.
Prosecutors emphasized the severity of the neglect, arguing that the parents’ failure to provide basic care directly led to Marcelyn’s death.
