Left to right: Demetres Givens and Jamie Thompson (Stark County Sheriff”s Office). Center: Berko Givens (GoFundMe).
Tragedy struck in Ohio when the neglect of a young boy by his adoptive parents led to his untimely death, a fact they confessed to in court.
Demetres Givens, aged 43, and Jamie Thompson, aged 38, both faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment linked to the demise of 3-year-old Berko Givens. As reported by The Repository, Thompson and Givens, Berko’s uncle, were aware of the child’s health challenges and had previously sought medical advice. However, despite being instructed to seek emergency care or consult a specialist if the boy’s condition worsened, prosecutors revealed that “They did not do that, for whatever reason.”
On May 5, 2025, Berko succumbed to starvation.
According to documents reviewed by WKYC, local police received a call to the Canton residence of Givens and Thompson at 9:30 a.m. on that fateful day. Thompson reported to 911 that when she attempted to rouse Berko, he was unresponsive and surrounded by vomit in his crib.
The child was quickly transported to the hospital, where he was declared deceased.
Thompson informed authorities that Berko had eating difficulties and mentioned that she and Givens sought assistance from Stark County Job and Family Services. The criminal complaint revealed that the couple had been advised to consult a pediatrician but repeatedly canceled appointments over several months, neglecting medical advice. Additionally, the complaint accused them of “cruelly torturing” Berko by failing to provide adequate food and care.
Police obtained arrest warrants for Thompson and Givens on charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, but they were nowhere to be found. They were eventually apprehended outside Stark County by U.S. Marshals and surrendered.
Both Thompson and Givens pleaded guilty to the charges against them. During their sentencing hearing on Feb. 20, both defendants expressed remorse for their actions, or, as Thompson’s defense attorney Jacob Will described it, their lack of action. Will told the court, “This was a crime of omission, not a crime of commission.”
Givens’ defense attorney Keith Warstler told the court that Berko’s condition was birth-related, and Givens had expressed “extreme remorse” over what happened to his nephew.
Assistant Stark County Prosecutor Daniel Petricini said Berko was the biological son of Givens’ sister, Myracle Givens, who lost custody of the boy when he was born. Givens lobbied for custody of Berko while he and Thompson had children of their own. Petricini told the court, “I can understand being overwhelmed,” but added that “they were also aware that there are social services available. There are resources available in the communities to help families who are struggling, and that could have helped them.”
In an interview with WKYC, Myracle Givens said, “If they diagnosed [Berko] with malnutrition and his appointments were being canceled after the fact…. I don’t understand. Like, why weren’t these people turned in? I don’t get that.”
Before handing down her sentence, Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin Farmer told the couple, “At some point, each of you ignored or disregarded medical advice and basic intuition and chose to let the victim suffer.”
Thompson and Givens were both sentenced to eight to 12 years in prison.
