Current:Home > NewsKansas City mom charged after she 'accidentally placed' baby in oven, prosecutors say-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Kansas City mom charged after she 'accidentally placed' baby in oven, prosecutors say
View Date:2024-12-23 16:04:06
A Kansas City mother was charged in the death of her 1-month-old baby after she allegedly accidently placed the child in the oven instead of the crib, the prosecutor's office said Saturday.
Mariah Thomas, 26, was charged with Class A felony of endangering the welfare of a child in the first-degree in the death of her baby, prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said in a news release from the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office in Missouri.
Around 1:30 p.m. Friday, Kansas City Police responded to a report of a non-breathing infant at a residence, according to charges filed by the prosecutor's office in court. They arrived at the scene to find a "1-month-old child with apparent burns" and thermal injuries lying in a car seat near the front door.
The police "were told the mother of the child was putting the child down for a nap and accidentally placed the child in the oven instead of the crib," said the prosecutor's office in the news release.
The Kansas City Fire Department and EMS responders, who were also present on scene, rendered aid and declared the infant dead at the scene, the Kansas Police Department said.
Thomas' parents, with whom she lived, told detectives that they were at work when the incident occurred, as per the charging documents. The suspect's father told the police that his daughter called him around lunchtime asking him to rush back home because "something was wrong with the baby."
He said when he arrived back home, he could smell smoke inside the house and found his granddaughter deceased.
When Thomas' father asked her what happened, she said: "I thought I put (infant's name redacted) in her crib, and I accidentally put her in the oven," as per the charge sheet.
'Suspicious death'
"This is a suspicious death investigation at this time," said the Kansas City Police in a statement. "Detectives want to make sure to gather all evidence with this opportunity, to ensure the case is able to be investigated in the event the medical examiner rules the cause of death a homicide."
It is not yet clear if Thomas has enlisted an attorney. According to Missouri state law, she could face anywhere from 10 years to life in prison, if convicted.
"We appreciate all first responders who worked this scene and the prosecutors who went to the scene in order to issue these charges," Baker said in a statement.
"We acknowledge the gruesome nature of this tragedy and our hearts are weighted by the loss of this precious life. We trust the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to these awful circumstances."
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.
veryGood! (64)
Related
- Tennessee fugitive accused of killing a man and lying about a bear chase is caught in South Carolina
- Judge set to rule on whether to scrap Trump’s conviction in hush money case
- Why Cynthia Erivo Needed Prosthetic Ears for Wicked
- Tua Tagovailoa playing with confidence as Miami Dolphins hope MNF win can spark run
- 4 charged in Detroit street shooting that left 2 dead, 5 wounded
- Should Georgia bench Carson Beck with CFP at stake against Tennessee? That's not happening
- Mike Williams Instagram post: Steelers' WR shades Aaron Rodgers 'red line' comments
- Love Is Blind’s Chelsea Blackwell Reacts to Megan Fox’s Baby News
- Congress is revisiting UFOs: Here's what's happened since last hearing on extraterrestrials
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom will spend part of week in DC as he tries to Trump-proof state policies
Ranking
- Avril Lavigne’s Ex Mod Sun Is Dating Love Is Blind Star Brittany Wisniewski, Debuts Romance With a Kiss
- NATO’s Rutte calls for more Western support for Ukraine, warns of Russian alliances
- How many dog breeds are there? A guide to groups recognized in the US
- Apologetic rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine gets 45 days in prison for probation violations
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long record of promoting anti-vaccine views
- Kate Spade Outlet’s Early Black Friday Sale – Get a $259 Bag for $59 & More Epic Deals Starting at $25
- Texas’ 90,000 DACA recipients can sign up for Affordable Care Act coverage — for now
- Celtics' Jaylen Brown calls Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo a 'child' over fake handshake
Recommendation
-
California voters reject measure that would have banned forced prison labor
-
Army veteran reunites with his K9 companion, who served with him in Afghanistan
-
Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco arrested again in Dominican Republic, according to reports
-
Democrat Ruben Gallego wins Arizona US Senate race against Republican Kari Lake
-
Former North Carolina labor commissioner becomes hospital group’s CEO
-
Gavin Rossdale Makes Rare Public Appearance With Girlfriend Xhoana Xheneti
-
2025 Medicare Part B premium increase outpaces both Social Security COLA and inflation
-
Mississippi rising, Georgia falling in college football NCAA Re-Rank 1-134 after Week 11