No Justice: Police Believe Dacia Lacey Was Tired & High On Meth When She Smothered Her Infant

[Sugar Cookie]

Dacia Lacey is charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Police believe she was tired and high on meth when she smothered her w[month-old baby, Alona, because she would not stop crying.

Investigators learned that Dacia Lacey’s then-3-year-old daughter told a consistent story to several family members that her mom was angry because the baby would not stop crying and put a pillow on the baby’s face. That led police to question Lacey again months after the Aug. 29, 2022, incident.

The lead detective on the case, Jamie Davis, testified that Lacey told several versions of what happened to her 2-month-old daughter before confessing.

"She was actually sitting in my lap and crying on my shoulder, and had said that she did her baby wrong and said that she had smothered her baby,” Davis said. “Basically, she said that she was high, and she was tired, and Alona had been crying. Ultimately, she ended up picking up Alona and facing her towards the crease in the couch. So, if you have the back of the couch and then the seating area, she placed her faced toward the crease.”

Toxicology results showed methamphetamine in Lacey’s system the day her baby died.

Judge Mark Stoner said he needed more time to review the three-hour video of Davis’ interview with Lacey.

Judge finds Indianapolis mother not guilty in death of 2-month-old daughter

Dacia Lacey's other daughter, who is nearly 5 years old, testified against her mother in the bench trial.

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No child should have to look at that face

 

[Granmaw]

That's a man.

 

[BuffettGirl]

I would have found a way to off myself (because of the shame) in the ensuing 18 months+/- since this incident occurred. Killing my child because I was high on meth and the bitty was crying (or rather, doing its damn job!) and it irritated me, is an offing offense in my book...

 

[Sugar Cookie]

At the 1:20 mark the judge speaks. He tells her to get counseling and to learn from this incident for her other children. She should go out and party and be around kids.

Someone commented he gave a sweetheart sentence to the cop killer.

An Indianapolis mother was found not guilty in the death of her 2-month-old daughter in 2022.
Dacia Lacey had been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death. Police believed she was tired and high on methamphetamine and smothered her baby, Alona, because she would not stop crying.

"You're not innocent, but you're not guilty of what the state has charged you with," Judge Mark Stoner said.

The judge ruled Dacia as not guilty.

"This is a case that happens when you're a bad parent. There are some things you can never do. You can never have sole possession of your children and go out and use drugs," Stoner said.

Before issuing his verdict, Stoner said the court does not place any reliance on the testimony from Dacia's other daughter.

"That doesn't mean that (Dacia's other daughter) is unreliable — it means that (Dacia's other daughter) is innocent," Stoner said. "(Dacia's other daughter) is a 3-year-old. (Dacia's other daughter) is only capable of hearing emotions, repeating some things without understanding things."

Stoner also pointed to the charge Dacia was facing — neglect of a dependent resulting in death.

"Not everything that's a mistake or everything that is wrong is criminal," Stoner said. "Something has to be done with criminal intent, criminal responsibility, and that's what the defendant is charged with. When the state chooses to charge an individual, they must prove they did something with criminal intent. Poor parenting, by definition, is not criminal."

In this case, Stoner said there is no physical evidence that shows neglect of a dependent, such as broken bones, injuries that have not healed over a long period of time or signs of abuse.

The pathologist was not able to provide a cause or manner of death for Alona — unable to say if the baby's death was a homicide or due to trauma.

"It's important to understand that the prosecutor chooses the charges. It's the prosecutor that's elected. The prosecutor has a screening division to make decisions as to what should be charged," Stoner said.

Judge finds Indianapolis mother not guilty in death of 2-month-old daughter

Dacia Lacey's other daughter, who is nearly 5 years old, testified against her mother in the bench trial.

www.wthr.com

Alona's life did not matter.