Sentenced: 2MO Baby Sleeping In Bed With Mom Was ‘Cold To The Touch’ When Discovered

[Sugar Cookie]

A mother smoked marijuana and consumed alcohol in the hours prior to her 2-month-old baby son’s death, court records show.

Jennifer Louise Mast, 39, was arraigned on involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse charges.

When deputies were on scene, they noted there was a strong odor of burnt marijuana inside the residence, and could see marijuana paraphernalia in plain view, police said in an affidavit of probable cause for complaints. There was also an empty bottle of vodka standing up on the dining room table.

Detectives interviewed Mast at the scene. She told police she had two mixed vodka drinks and a shot of vodka. Mast said she smoked marijuana right before going to bed, however, when she went to bed, the baby was already sleeping in his bouncy seat.

At some point during the night, the baby woke up and Mast fed him, changed him, then laid him in bed with her. The boy’s father – who was also home – woke up in the morning to go to work and woke Mast up.

That’s when Mast noticed the baby was cold to the touch and wasn’t breathing, the affidavit states. The father called 911 and Mast grabbed the child and performed CPR until the fire department arrived.

The Kent County Medical Examiner’s Office listed the baby’s cause of death as asphyxiation by suffocation.

Baby sleeping in bed with mom was ‘cold to the touch’ when discovered, records show

Police said the mother had smoked marijuana and drank alcohol in the hours prior to the baby's death.

www.mlive.com

 

[cubby]

Co sleeping while drunk/high again!

 

[HijabiGirl]

There is so much controversy about co-sleeping but there is ssoooooo much advice to avoid it while under the influence. This was lazy parenting, I hope she doesn't have more.

 

[misfirefly1981]

I like to drink, I also co-slept, but since I'm not an idiot, I saw how that could be an issue. I had a large sit on the bed steel frame bassinet. The fabric around the frame was breathable and see through. I loved that thing.

 

[Sugar Cookie]

Wesley James Rau

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A woman whose 2-month-old son died in her bed has been sentenced to probation.

Jennifer Louise Mast, 40, was sentenced Wednesday, April 23 on misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree child abuse and controlled substance use.

Mast originally was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but pleaded to the two lesser charges.

Her son, 2-month-old Wesley Rau, was found dead early Aug. 25, 2023, in the Solon Township home where he lived.

A medical examiner ruled he died from “presumed asphyxia by suffocation” and said it involved “baby in co-sleeping situation.” The death was an accident.

In court Wednesday, the father of Wesley Rau spoke to the judge and defended Mast. He questioned whether charges should have been filed at all.

“She’s a loving person. This has been a tragedy for everyone, including me,” Steven Rau said.

“This has been drug on now for two years. Jennifer’s mental state has been rough because of this,” he said.

Kent County Circuit Judge Paul Denenfeld noted that a report indicated the baby, when born, was positive for THC and cocaine metabolites.

He said it cause for concern, but not regarding how the baby died.

As part of the sentence Denenfeld ordered a 45-day suspended jail term that will only be served if Mast violates her probation.

“I’m doing this to give you some kind of an opportunity to pull yourself together after a tragedy like this so that you can continue to be useful to yourself and others,” he said.

MSN

 

[cubby]

She skated. You would hope at 39 that she had better sense, but you would be wrong. Teenagers are getting older and older.