Murder Charges Sought Against Parents Of Malnourished Child

The parents of a 3-month-old girl who police say weighed only three pounds when her parents took her to the hospital could soon face murder charges. 

Police say 19-year-old Miguel Soto and 20-year-old Alysha Anderson took their child, Nicole Soto, to Southwest Medical Center Sunday morning.  They say the child was dead, and appeared to be horribly malnourished, weighing only 3 pounds. 

Police took the parents into custody for child neglect, but say they will push for both parents to be charged with second-degree murder.

6/4/2012 Related Story: Couple Arrested After Their Malnourished Child Dies At OKC Hospital

The family lived in an apartment at Will Rogers Court, two doors down from Norma Johnson, who says Miguel Soto enjoyed growing squash in his modest garden. Johnson has lived two doors down from the family for the past two years.

"That's why I didn't understand why they didn't come to me, and I could have helped her.  If they didn't have anything over there to eat, I would have helped her," Johnson said.

"This is a surprise to me.  This is shocking to me.  I don't understand this. Kids raising kids, that's what they were, but they was good kids."

Soto and Anderson have two other children, ages 3 and 22 months. Police are also looking to charge the couple with two counts of child neglect for their other children. They are now in protective custody.

Soto and Anderson are both in jail, each with a $30,000 bond.