A one-month-old infant tragically passes away after her mother mistakenly places her in an oven for a nap instead of the crib.
The gruesome incident happened in Missouri, United States. On Friday afternoon the Missouri police officers received a report of a one-month-old baby not being able to breath. When the police reached the Kansas City home, the police witnessed extensive burns on the unresponsive baby. The baby was noticeably dead at the scene and the police described it as gruesome.
Mariah Thomas, a 26-year-old resident of Kansas City, was the mother of a one-month-old baby girl. She was charged with jeopardizing the welfare of a child. Child endangerment is categorized as a class 'A' felony in Missouri, which carries a potential prison sentence of 10-30 years.
According to the first responders, the baby's mother accidentally put her baby in an oven for a nap instead of the crib. The police said that the baby's clothes were blackened and burnt into her diaper and there was a smell of smoke in the house.
Mariah Thomas was taken to the police station but chose to stay silent under her Fifth Amendment rights.
Based on the court documents, the baby's grandfather informed the investigators that Mariah called him around 1 pm on Friday and expressed concern for the baby. After reaching the home, he noticed the smell of smoke and found the baby in the crib. The grandfather also said to the investigators that Mariah had informed him that she was putting her child down for a nap and accidentally placed the child in the oven instead of the crib.
Jackson County Prosecutor, Jean Peters Baker expressed that they appreciate all the first responders who worked in this case and the prosecutors who went to the scene to issue these charges. He also said that they acknowledged the gruesome nature of the tragedy and their hearts are weighed by the loss of this precious life. They trust the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to these awful circumstances.
A friend of Mariah Thomas says that Ms Thomas's mental health may have played a role in the tragedy. They also explained the baby as a very bubbly child who was smiling all the time.
Mariah Thomas is presently held at the Jackson County Detention Center.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya beeraboina/MSM)
