Parents jailed over death of ‘concentration camp’ cancer child

A US judge sentenced two parents to eight years in prison after they pleaded guilty to failing to get medical help for their eight- year-old boy before he died from a treatable form of cancer.

Judge Michael Astrab admonished Monica Hussing, 37, and William T Robinson Snr, 40, parents of William Robinson Jnr, for not taking personal responsibility for their son’s March 2008 death and for hiding him away instead of seeking help for his illness. They received the maximum sentence.

The parents said they had financial problems and tried to get checkups for their son but couldn’t afford it. Prosecutors said the couple still managed to pay a vet $87 (€62) to have a pit bull treated for fleas.

The judge compared the autopsy photo of Willie’s emaciated body to concentration camp victims. “If anybody, anybody, didn’t know this kid was sick, they are seriously, seriously disturbed,” Astrab said.

The couple pleaded guilty in January to one count each of involuntary manslaughter. Hussing and Robinson were under investigation since 2005 by the Department of Family and Children Services in Trumbull County for keeping some of their six children out of school and failing to get medical attention for William. Hussing showed no emotion as the judge scolded her for never enrolling her son in school.

Hussing testified that her son had died in her arms after exhibiting “flu-like symptoms” and that she tried to give him CPR before emergency workers arrived. The Cuyahoga County coroner ruled the boy’s death from Hodgkins lymphoma and pneumonia a homicide.

A 2009 American Cancer Society report found that 96% of children diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease will survive five or more years. But some 85% of the cells in William’s lungs had been replaced by abnormal cells.

Robinson was also charged earlier this week with 16 counts including the rape and kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl in 2009. His arraignment is scheduled for Feb 27.

Three of the family’s other children are living with a maternal aunt. Another is in a juvenile facility for behavioural problems.

Monica Hussing’s oldest child, Lillian Hussing, who is William Robinson Snr’s stepchild, gave a statement on her mother’s behalf. She said her brother was a normal, happy eight-year-old up until three days before he died. “Sometimes he was lazy and would lie on his bed and play video games,” Hussing said.