Natalee Rasmus' 1MO Died After being Placed Face Down With Boppy Pillow In Bassinet

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A Nanticoke mother has been charged with homicide in the October 2022 death of her infant daughter who suffocated after being placed face down in a bassinet, state police announced Monday.

Natalee Michele Rasmus, now 19, is charged with third-degree murder and related offenses in connection with the death of her one-month-old child.


An autopsy determined the child died of “asphyxia due to mechanical compression,” according to arrest papers.

Police said Rasmus noted she used a curved “boppy pillow” to help the baby sleep in the soft bassinet next to her bed and “sometimes she moves in the boppy.”

During questioning in front of her mother, Rasmus noted the baby had trouble sleeping.

“Yes. She wouldn’t sleep. She’ll just scream, so she has to be like propped up,” Rasmus reportedly said.

Arrest papers noted forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross, who performed the autopsy, ruled the death accidental, but also reported that there was no way the baby would have had the strength to wiggle into the fatal position she was found. He said the baby “would have to have been placed face down,” according to arrest papers filed by state police and Luzerne County Detectives.

In addition to third-degree murder, Rasmus is charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children.

Arrest papers also note Rasmus’ maternity provider and pediatric consultant provided her with literature advising a baby should always sleep on his or her back.

At least three times before the baby’s death, someone searched from Rasmus’ phone about whether it was OK to allow a baby to sleep on his or her stomach, police said.

Nanticoke mother charged with homicide in baby’s suffocation death

NANTICOKE — A Nanticoke woman has been charged with homicide in connection with the October 2022 death of her infant daughter, state police announced Monday. Natalee Michele Rasmus, now 19, is char…

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Avaya Jade Rasmus-Alberto

 

[BuffettGirl]

Apparently the cat was more attentive than the teenager was...

 

[Sugar Cookie]

The death certificate for 1-month old Avaya Jade Rasmus-Alberto list the cause of death as asphyxiation due to mechanical compression and the manner of death as accidental.

Despite the accidental death finding by a forensic pathologist, the infant's mother, Natalee Michele Rasmus, 19, will face charges of third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment in Luzerne County Court.

District Judge Donald Whittaker of Nanticoke forwarded the criminal case against Rasmus to county court following a one-hour preliminary hearing Friday where assistant district attorneys Carly A. Levandoski and Julian Truskowski argued she disregarded safety sleeping practices for her baby.

Trooper Caroline Rayeski testified Friday the infant was found in the bassinet slightly on her right side with one arm across the chest and the other arm down to the waist.

A Boppy pillow was also in the bassinet.

Rayeski said the investigation alleged Rasmus ignored safety sleeping practices for newborns as she placed her baby face down to sleep and the Boppy pillow has a tag warning, "Do not use for sleeping." Rayeski further testified a search of Rasmus' cellular phone uncovered Google searches if it was possible to lay a newborn on the stomach to sleep.

Levandoski and Truskowski produced the large Boppy pillow, commonly used to nurse newborns, and the bassinet during the hearing.

Rayeski also seized pre-natal literature from Geisinger for parents of newborns stating it is "recommended" to place newborns on their backs to sleep.

Chief Public Defender Joseph Yeager who, along with Public Defender Melissa Ann Sulima represent Rasmus, said the death of Avaya was a tragic accident with no criminal intent to harm or kill the baby.

Yeager said the pre-natal literature referring to newborn sleep positions are "recommendations," and not mandates.

"As the death certificate says, it was an accident. Clearly there was no malice in this accidental death," Yeager argued in an effort to have the entire case, especially the third-degree murder charge, dismissed.

Levandoski argued Rasmus "disregarded" instructions from the hospital not to place the infant face down to sleep.

"She knowingly disregarded those risks and created an unsafe environment for the baby to sleep," Levandoski argued.

Whittaker ruled Levandoski and Truskowski established a case against Rasmus and sent all the charges to county court.

Mother to face murder charge for infant's 'accidental' death

Feb. 28—WILKES-BARRE — The death certificate for 1-month old Avaya Jade Rasmus-Alberto list the cause of death as asphyxiation due to mechanical compression and the manner of death as accidental. Desp...

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