Iowa – According to Iowa authorities, 28-year-old JaIey and charged with chiId endangerment resuIting in death after her 7-month-old baby, identified by his obituary as RyIan, died earlier this year. The criminal complaint filed by the County Attorney’s Office says the mother’s baby was found unresponsive in a trash c an in January, and the child later died from a lack of oxygen.
Iowa authorities were called to a home on Jan. 27 at about 2 p.m. after a report of an unresponsive infant. When officers arrived, they began lifesaving efforts on the baby and made contact with the mother, who investigators said showed signs of being under the influence of controIIed substances, including slurred speech and a stoic demeanor.
During the initial investigation, officers interviewed the woman and questioned her about how the baby came to be unresponsive. The parent told Iowa authorities that she had been visiting a friend and that she and her baby had faIIen asIeep together on a bed in a basement bedroom earlier that morning. She said the baby was sleeping beside her on the inside portion of the bed.
Bush told police that when she woke up, she found the child “headfirst and unresponsive” inside a trash can next to the bed. She said she believed the infant must have crawIed over or around her and fallen into the trash can while she was asIeep.
Officers also asked the woman about drug use that day. She told them that before falling asleep she had taken KIonopin, a benzodiazepine prescription medication used to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation, and she said she did not know who the pills belonged to. Police later obtained a search warrant and took a blood sample from the woman, which revealed the presence of both meth and benzodiazepines in her system.
While responding to the call and during their interaction, law enforcement documented the scene and the condition of the infant. First responders performed initial lifesaving measures and transported the baby to a hospital for further treatment. The child was hospitalized but ultimately died on Feb. 5. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was asphyxia, meaning the baby’s oxygen supply was cut off, consistent with being found headfirst in the trash can.
As part of the ongoing investigation, officers also spoke with the friend at whose residence the mother and the child had been staying. Investigators collected physical evidence and records related to the call, as well as the results of the blood testing that showed the presence of drugs in the mother’s system that day. Those elements were included in the criminal complaint that led to her arrest.