Kenosha woman charged after one-year-old found dead; covered with blankets, toys, and clothes in pack n' play

A 31-year-old Kenosha Woman, Amber Stevenson, is now charged with Child Neglect Resulting in Death.

Police responded to a home near 52nd St and 25th Ave in Kenosha for a pulseless, non-breathing, one-year-old on March 15th.

According to the criminal complaint, the defendant's boyfriend said he was woken up around 8 a.m. and went to check on the victim, identified as Jonah. When he got to the victim, he said Jonah was cold and stiff with blood coming out of his mouth.

The defendant's boyfriend also stated that Jonah had about 10 blankets and 5 to 6 toys in the pack n' play.

During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that the defendant had been drinking and smoking marijuana on the night of Jonah's death.

The house, including Jonah's room, was found to be in disarray and filthy.

An autopsy determined that the cause of death was Mechanical Asphyxia. 

According to the complaint, the Medical Examiner’s Office spoke with the defendant's boyfriend and he agreed to go to the residence and participate in a reenactment of what happened. In the video recorded reenactment, he was directed to put all of the items in the pack ‘n play that had been in there when he found Jonah. He placed the baby doll representing Jonah on the bottom of the pack ‘n play and, on top of the doll, He filled the pack ‘n play to the very top with blankets, toys, clothes, and other items including a plunger.

The defendant allegedly told police that her kids would put toys and sippy cups in the pack n' play in the past.

According to the criminal complaint, medical records indicate that Jonah was admitted to the hospital in May of 2016 for pneumonia and taken to the ER due to respiratory distress. Jonah was also treated for breathing difficulties and bronchiolitis on two separate dates. Jonah missed 6 follow-up appointments.

Stevenson will have her preliminary hearing on June 23rd.

 

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