An unfortunate incident in Kansas City, Missouri, recently led to the arrest of a 26-year-old mother, Mariah Thomas. Thomas currently faces a Class A felony, particularly first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, leading to the death of her 1-month-old baby.
The prosecutor’s office, led by Jean Peters Baker, announced the charges on Saturday, February 10, 2024. The heartbreaking event involved an alleged mistake where Thomas mistakenly placed her baby in an oven instead of a crib.
In a press release, Baker was thankful to all first responders and prosecutors who quickly acted on the spot to address the incident. She also acknowledged the gruesome nature of this tragedy and emphasized the collective sorrow felt for the loss of the precious soul. She continued, saying, “We trust the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to these awful circumstances.”
The sad incident occurred when police officers responded to a call about a nonbreathing baby around 1:30 p.m. local time on February 9, 2024. According to the court documents filed the next day and obtained by ABC News, the dispatch led officers to a residence in the Manheim Park neighborhood of Kansas City.
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Upon arrival at the scene, officers noted apparent burn wounds on the infant victim, as outlined in the court documents. The gravity of the situation prompted the response of the Kansas City Fire Department. Upon their arrival, they declared the baby dead.
Shockingly, Thomas claimed she was putting the child down for a nap and mistakenly placed the baby in the oven instead of the crib. According to the court documents, Thomas allegedly confessed to the infant’s grandfather, stating, “I thought I put (infant’s name redacted) in her crib, and I accidentally put her in the oven.”
The grandfather shared Thomas’ statement with the police, adding more details to the sad incident. The motive resulting in the infant’s death is believed to be in connection with her mental health struggles. A source close to Thomas spoke anonymously to The Daily Mail Beast.
She doubted that Thomas intended to harm her newborn baby. The same source revealed that Thomas has dealt with mental health challenges since childhood, ceasing her medication during pregnancy. In the month post-birth, her mental health status reportedly deteriorated with feelings of loneliness.
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Moreover, Thomas believed others were indifferent to her struggles and only cared about her baby. This belief reportedly bothered Thomas, as she desired the recognition her daughter received. Despite these struggles, the source mentioned that Thomas loved her daughter and embraced motherhood.
The source further mentioned that Thomas did not mean to hurt her baby. “She loved her baby dearly,” the source said. Currently, court records are yet to indicate whether Thomas has legal representation.
The potential consequences she may face under Missouri state law if declared guilty are severe. These are with a conviction carrying a possible sentence ranging from 10 years to life in prison.
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