New Jersey couple charged with starving adopted sons plead innocence

Jet, August 2, 2004

A New Jersey couple charged with 28 counts of starving their four adopted sons pleaded not guilty recently during a court appearance.

Raymond and Vanessa Jackson of Collingswood were charged last year with aggravated assault and child endangerment after their 19-year-old adopted son was found rummaging through a neighbor's trash for food. He was just 4 feet tall and weighed only 45 pounds.

Authorities also found three younger adopted boys in the family's home who were undersized. The boys had been living mostly on wallboard and uncooked pancake batter, authorities said. Since being removed from the home, each has grown substantially (JET, Nov. 24 2003).

The couple face eight counts of aggravated assault and 20 counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree. If convicted on all counts, they could each be sentenced to 280 years in state prison, though it is likely the term would be far less.

Lawyers representing Raymond and Vanessa Jackson say they will try to get some of the charges dropped before the trial.

The couple, who did not speak at the hearing, were free on $100,000 bail each, and living at an undisclosed location. A trial date has not been set.

Since the Jacksons' arrests, New Jersey's child welfare system has begun a sweeping overhaul. The reform was already under way when the children were found, but intensified afterward.