How Could You? Hall of Shame-Berko Givens case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Canton, Ohio, adoptee Berko Givens, 3, was starved to death on May 5, 2025. His adoptive father,Demetres Givens, 42, ” was indicted for involuntary manslaughter in Stark County Common Pleas Court on Thursday.

Back on May 15, the adoptive parents charged in connection with the death of a little boy in their care were arraigned in Canton Municipal Court.

Demetres Givens, 42, and Jamie Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and endangering children.

The judge set their bond at $1 million each.

On Thursday, Givens and Thompson were indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in Stark County Common Pleas Court.

The two will be back in court on Sept. 5 for their arraignments.

Canton Police responded to a home on Gilbert Circle NE on May 5, after reports of a three-year-old in his bed “not breathing.”

According to the police report, Thompson called 911 for help after Givens had checked on the child in his upstairs room and found him unresponsive.

According to court documents, Thompson and Givens had starved the child, identified as Berko Givens, to the point where he was malnourished for months.

Once the child started showing signs of his malnutrition, the couple cancelled various appointments with medical professionals, which ultimately led to Berko’s death from starvation, according to court documents.

19 News has learned the adoptive father, Givens, was the uncle of the victim.

“It’s unimaginable,” the biological mother of the four-year-old, Myracle Givens, said. “I never would have thought that I would see my older brother, a person that I grew up with since I was a baby, on the news, for something like this regarding one of my children.””

“Stark County Job & Family Services shared the following statement with 19 News:

Mr. Demetres Givens and Ms. Jamie L. Thompson were not foster parents for Stark County, nor were they the parents of Berko Givens. Mr. Givens and Ms. Thompson were given legal custody of Berko Givens through a Dependency/Neglect/Abuse (Children Services) case in Summit County. Mr. Givens is the brother of Berko’s biological mother. Mr. Givens and Ms. Thompson were the Legal Custodians of this child at the time of his death.”
[Oh please! Legal custodians, my !]

Adoptive parents accused of starving child to death indicted for involuntary manslaughter
[Cleveland 19 8/28/25 by Julia Thyret and Madeline Harden]

A search of the Stark County, Ohio court records shows that Demetres Givens has a FINAL PRETRIAL HEARING RESCHEDULED FROM 11/20/2025 10:00 AM TO 02/12/2026 10:00 AM NOTICES SENT.

REFORM Puzzle Piece