Couple Pleads Guilty for Allegedly Beating and Starving Eight Year Old Girl

(KNSI) – A husband and wife accused of beating and starving to death an 8-year-old girl last year have pleaded guilty.

Brett and Sarah Hallow admitted in court to beating and starving Autumn Hallow before she ultimately died at their Elk River apartment. Brett Hallow is the girl’s father. He and her stepmother, Sarah, were both charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in the case.

As early as 2019, the two were also accused of abusing Autumn’s brother and another child in their home.

The child’s mother, Kelsey Kruse, says she requested welfare checks on Autumn at the Hallows’ home by Elk River Police after the two would not allow her to see her daughter, citing coronavirus fears. She says police would reportedly come to the home and ask to see Autumn, but they too were denied. Officers were turned away, with Brett and Sarah saying that they would allow Autumn to wave to officers from the balcony of their apartment to let them know she was OK.

On the night of August 13th, 2020, police were called to the Hallows’ apartment for a medical emergency. Police say they found Autumn not breathing and unresponsive. Lifesaving measures were unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Brett and Sarah were arrested on August 14th. Autumn reportedly weighed 33 pounds when she died.

Kruse has filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Sherburne County Child Protection Services and the Elk River Police Department for failing to intervene in the situation and not doing more to protect Autumn.

As part of the guilty plea, the couple allegedly admitted denying Autumn food and water. The Hallows’ are facing up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing is set for September.

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