Kansas City, Missouri – Mariah Thomas of Kansas City was charged with endangering the welfare of a child on Friday after a tragic incident resulted in the death of her infant. The infant died when Thomas mistakenly placed the child in an oven instead of the crib for a nap.
According to prosecutors, police responded to a report of an infant not breathing on Friday afternoon. Responders found the child with apparent burns and pronounced the child dead at the scene. A witness informed responders that the mother had mistakenly placed the child in the oven for a nap.
While court records do not yet show whether Thomas has legal representation, Jackson county prosecuting attorney Jean Peters Baker acknowledged the tragedy and expressed trust in the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to the circumstances.
The details of how the mistake was made were not provided in the statement. The prosecutor’s statement emphasized the gravity of the situation and the profound loss of life.
The tragic death of the infant has left the community in mourning and shed light on the need for increased awareness and education to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future. This devastating event serves as a reminder of the critical importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, and it underscores the need for support and resources for caregivers to prevent such tragic accidents from occurring.