Baby malnourished as mum wanted to 'live on sunlight'

Elizabeth Hawk was arrested and charged with child endangerment. Photo / Getty Images

A woman has been arrested and charged with child endangerment after allegedly starving her 11-month-old son by feeding him a diet soley consisting of nuts and berries.

The child's father took the boy to CYS and told them that his estranged wife, Elizabeth Hawk, was "obsessed" with following a strict diet, KDKA reports.

"He had a severe rash," said Brandy Hawk, the suspect's sister-in-law. "It was his motor skills; he couldn't use his hands at all."

Hawk says her sister-in-law blamed it on "allergies," adding that she had extreme views on diet.

"She was going to live on water and sunlight," Brandy said.

According to court records, a doctor said the baby had an untreated rash which was "inhmane" to ignore. The baby was also at a "failure to thrive" level, leaving the child developmentally delayed as a result of malnourishment.