The two suspects accused in the starvation death of 3-year-old Berko Givens appeared in court for a video arraignment for the first time Thursday morning. Bond was set at $1,000,000 for both Demetres S. Givens, 42, and Jamie L. Thompson, 37, due to the seriousness of the charges.
Additionally, while initial reports indicated the couple were Berko’s foster parents, the court clarified Thursday that the two had legal custody of the child. He was not in foster care at the time of his death.
A Canton couple accused in the death of their 3-year-old foster son are alleged to have withheld food and medical care from the child over a period of several months, ultimately leading to his death by starvation, according to a criminal complaint obtained by JMN.
The complaint alleges that both Givens and Thompson knowingly failed to provide adequate nutrition and medical attention to the child despite warnings from a pediatrician about his deteriorating health. Investigators say the couple repeatedly canceled doctor appointments and refused to follow through with treatment recommendations, resulting in the child’s death.
The child, identified as Berko Givens, died on May 5. The alleged neglecting took place between Oct. 1, 2024 and May 4, 2025.
Givens and Thompson are each charged with first-degree felony involuntary manslaughter and second-degree felony child endangerment. They surrendered to authorities on May 13, nearly a week after police obtained arrest warrants in the case.
According to Canton police, officers were called to the family’s home in the 3100 block of Gilbert Circle NE around 9:30 p.m. on May 5 for a report of an unresponsive child. When first responders arrived, they found Berko not breathing. He was transported by paramedics to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
A 911 call placed from the home that night reveals the chaotic and emotional scene. In the call, Thompson is heard crying as she tells a dispatcher her son isn’t breathing.
“He’s not breathing at all,” she says, noting that the child had ongoing medical issues and had been under the care of Akron Children’s Hospital.
“I tried to wake him up to feed him, and he’s not alive,” she continues.
When asked by the dispatcher if she wanted to begin CPR, Thompson said she was trying but the boy was unresponsive. She also mentioned her mother was on the way and that her husband and other children were present.
Detectives requested arrest warrants for the couple on May 9, but authorities were initially unable to locate them. They turned themselves in four days later.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Canton Police Department at (330) 649-5800, the Detective Bureau at (330) 489-3144, or the U.S. Marshals Task Force at 1-877-WANTED2. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Tip411 or the Stark County Crime Stoppers at www.cantonohio.gov/police.
