In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a one-month-old infant in Missouri tragically lost her life after her mother mistakenly placed her in an oven, thinking it was the crib.
Mariah Thomas of Kansas City has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child following this devastating incident. As of now, court records do not reflect whether Thomas has legal representation.
The dreadful episode unfolded on a Friday afternoon when the authorities responded to a distressing report of an infant not breathing. Upon arrival at the scene, responders were met with a harrowing sight- the child bore apparent burns and was pronounced dead on-site.
According to a probable cause statement, a witness recounted a chilling detail to the responders, revealing that the mother had mistakenly placed the infant in the oven instead of the crib while attempting to put her down for a nap.
The statement did not delve into the specifics of how such a grievous error occurred, leaving many questions unanswered.
The scene described by the authorities was nothing short of distressing. Charging documents indicate that the infant sustained severe burns, and the situation was deemed "gruesome" by law enforcement officials.
Police discovered the baby lying in a car seat inside the home, with evident thermal injuries on various parts of her body. Additionally, the infant's clothing had melted onto her diaper.
"She was clothes in a bodysuit over a diaper. The clothing appeared to have melted into the diaper, and it was very dirty, possibly burned on the backside," a police affidavit read. "A baby blanket with significant burn marks was located in the living room and was collected."
Prosecutor Mourns Infant's Loss, Calls for Justice
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker expressed profound sorrow over the loss of the infant's life, acknowledging the gravity of the tragedy.
Baker, in a statement, highlighted the need for the criminal justice system to respond fittingly to such appalling circumstances.
"We acknowledge the gruesome nature of this tragedy and our hearts are weighted by the loss of this precious life," the prosecutor said in a statement, as reported by The Guardian. "We trust the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to these awful circumstances."
Further details provided by detectives shed light on the sequence of events leading up to the infant's untimely demise. The child's grandparents, who had left the home earlier that morning, received a distressing call from the child's mother, who was hysterical, informing them of the grave mistake.
Upon returning home, the grandfather discovered the tragic scene, with the smell of smoke permeating the air and the baby lifeless in her crib. The mother, in a state of distress, confessed to accidentally placing the infant in the oven.
If found guilty, Thomas faces a potential sentence ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
