Prosecutors say a Missouri infant died after her mother accidentally placed her in an oven for a nap.
According to ABC News, Kansas City resident Mariah Thomas was charged with a Class A felony, first-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
On Friday, police responded to a report of an infant not breathing. The 1-month old was found with apparent burns on her body and was pronounced dead at the scene.
“I thought I put [infant’s name redacted] in her crib, and I accidentally put her in the oven,” Thomas allegedly told the infant’s grandfather.
The infant’s grandfather told responders that his daughter “put the child down for a nap and accidentally placed her in the oven instead of the crib.”
According to reports, the statement didn’t explain how the mistake happened.
“We acknowledge the gruesome nature of this tragedy and our hearts are weighted by the loss of this precious life,” said Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker. “We trust the criminal justice system to respond appropriately to these awful circumstances.”
According to Missouri state law, Thomas could face anywhere from 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
