9-Day-Old Boy Dies in Soiled Diaper After Mom Leaves Him in Car Seat for 13 Hours

An Indiana woman was arrested on Tuesday, more than a month after her 9-day-old son reportedly died while in her care.

Lawrenceburg police and EMS responded to an apartment on March 3 amid reports of an unresponsive infant. According to WLWT, Dearborn County Prosecutor Lynn Deddens said Raeleigh Phillips’ newborn died well before police and EMS were called to the scene.

Phillips, 22, allegedly told police that she arrived home from a friend’s house and left her son in his car seat because he was sleeping. She is believed to have left her son in the car seat for 13 hours while she napped.

According to WXIX, Phillips woke up to find her son cold and not breathing. An autopsy determined his cause of death was positional asphyxia.

Deddens also alleged that Phillips’ son was not fed for 13 hours and was wearing a soiled diaper when he died.

WXIX reported that Phillips was charged in 2022 with neglect of a dependent. In regard to her son’s death, she is facing that charge in addition to reckless homicide.

Phillips’ bond was set at $200,000.

 

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[Featured image: Raeleigh Phillips/Dearborn County Sheriff’s Office]