Isaiah Stark died from an unusual cause in February 2020. A coroner determined he had too much sodium in his system. This likely came as an aftereffect of ingesting too much olive brine. The 7-year-old’s parents, Elizabeth Stark and Jonathan Stark, reportedly gave Isaiah olive brine as a form of punishment, according to a mandated reporter’s call to a child abuse hotline.
But the Starks never faced prosecution in Isaiah’s death. A coroner and district attorney allegedly threw the case out because of Jonathan Stark’s position in law enforcement.
The Denver Post reported that Jonathan Stark worked as a police officer in the Granby Police Department in Grand County, Colorado. His wife, Elizabeth Stark, cared for and homeschooled the couple’s five sons. The parents took custody of Isaiah shortly after his birth. His mother was reportedly addicted to drugs, and he had multiple developmental issues.
Additionally, he reportedly had reactive attachment disorder. The rare behavioral health condition prohibits infants and young children from establishing healthy attachment to parents and caregivers.
According to court documents obtained by the Post, Elizabeth Stark contacted Isaiah’s doctors for help in 2017.
“I am desperate for help,” Elizabeth Stark wrote. “Is there a stronger medication that you can prescribe ASAP that will take the ability away from him to keep him awake and completely force his body to sleep?”
She reportedly messaged doctors monthly for years. On February 16, 2020, Elizabeth Stark sent an urgent request to Isaiah’s doctor.
“I am still having significant problems with his sleep,” she wrote. “He says he is sleeping at night, and he seems to be, but he is wanting to sleep all day and we are held hostage by this, unable to do anything because he keeps falling asleep.”
The following day the family rushed him to the hospital, but he became unresponsive on the way. Isaiah died the next day. According to court documents, a coroner determined his cause of death was hypernatremia, caused by high sodium in the blood, the Post reported. The Grand County coroner ruled the death accidental, despite symptoms of malnutrition and dehydration.
“I do not believe this is anything more than a tragic accident,” Grand County Coroner Branda Bock wrote according to a Colorado Bureau of Investigation report.
Following Isaiah’s death, the Starks met with the assistant coroner, Tawnya Bailey. She allegedly told them, “I will do everything in my power to make sure this stays here,” according to a CBI report. She also reportedly assured them sheriff’s investigator Bobby Rauch would do the same.
The district attorney opted not to prosecute “because the autopsy, and then subsequent additional review by medical professionals, could not confirm the exact cause of death nor establish any culpable mental state required for a criminal prosecution under applicable Colorado statutes,” District Attorney Matt Karzen shared in a statement, per the Post.
“Words are inadequate to share how grateful we are at the outpouring of love from our community in the loss of our son. For a week friends and family have rallied around the clock to care for every single need we might have,” Elizabeth Stark shared on Facebook following Isaiah’s death.
“From treats and meals to paper goods so we don’t have to wash dishes, helping with our boys, giving flowers and money and cards, or just sitting with us when we so desperately need that comfort,” she added. “We are grateful. So incredibly grateful. Thank you for the love and support and all the gestures big and small. We love all of you and are speechless at your compassion.”
Less than a year after Isaiah’s death, Elizabeth Stark gave birth to their “miracle baby,” Knox.
