Thread: Couple Too Drunk to Notice Baby Was Dying

Not defending the couple who should not be doing drugs while caring for an infant ... but ... how does one "detect" the symptoms of SIDS ?

Originally Posted by Jolie Rouge

Not defending the couple who should not be doing drugs while caring for an infant ... but ... how does one "detect" the symptoms of SIDS ?

That was my thought exactly.

There has to be more to this story. It makes no sense. They should have noticed the symptoms? WTH

Charges recommended in SIDS death in Brownsville
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/trib...rce=rss&feed=2

A Fayette County coroner's jury recommended Wednesday that police pursue criminal charges against a Brownsville couple whose baby died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Lily Marie Martin, who was not quite 3 months old, died June 6. An autopsy showed she died from SIDS.

But her parents, Jennifer Gaster and Daniel Martin, were allegedly drinking and doing drugs the night before the infant's death, leading jurors to recommend that Fayette County District Attorney Nancy Vernon and state police file charges of neglect and child endangerment.


Jurors deliberated about an hour before deciding that charges should be filed.

There were no signs of drugs or alcohol in the baby's body, and there were no signs of abuse or illness, according to Coroner Dr. Phillip E. Reilly.

"This is a previously well child who basically died in her sleep, possibly a SIDS death," Reilly said. The autopsy was performed under the direction of Dr. Cyril Wecht.

The child's parents, who were represented by Uniontown attorney Thomas W. Shaffer, did not testify. Neither has been charged with a crime.

In statements to investigators, Gaster said she breast-fed the baby at 2 a.m. June 6 and fell asleep in a recliner while holding the infant.

When she awoke about 10 a.m., the baby was face-down between Gaster's leg and the arm of the chair, Gaster told police.

Trooper Joseph Panepinto, of state police at Belle Vernon, played a tape of a 911 call made by Michelle Jordan, a friend of the child's parents. Several times Jordan stated that the infant was "not breathing" and "she's gone."

When she asked Gaster what happened, Gaster's voice on the tape says, "I was so (expletive) drunk last night," according to the trooper.

In a July 1 visit to the couple's home, Panepinto said, "When I asked her, 'Do you think you maybe had too much to drink?' she said, 'Yeah, I think I had too much. I had a buzz.'"

Asked about the 911 tape, Gaster said, "I guess that four or five beers did me in. I shouldn't have drank."

Jordan stated that she, Gaster, Martin and Jordan's boyfriend were partying at Gaster and Martin's home that night. She said that, in addition to beer, she and Gaster drank vodka and they all did several lines of cocaine.

Gina D'Auria, a child service investigator, said she visited the couple's home in July after receiving a report of a child dying under suspicious circumstances.

She said Gaster was cooperative, but she saw a half-empty, 30-pack of beer on a freezer.

She said Gaster denied using drugs but admitted drinking on the night of her daughter's death.

D'Auria said Gaster's other child, a 3-year-son, appeared healthy, but D'Auria felt there was "significant risk to his remaining in the home."

Gaster agreed to follow a parental safety plan and Martin consented to be involved in the supervisory program after a court hearing, D'Auria said.

The family continues to be monitored by child welfare officials.

Shaffer told the jury, "This individual (Gaster) is a responsible mother."

Jordan's testimony, he said, was "non-credible and evasive."

Shaffer said cocaine stays in the body for 72 hours, yet none was found in the breast-fed baby's blood.

"I would say it's a tragedy, what happened, but it certainly does not rise to the level of criminal charges," Shaffer said.

Panepinto said, "I agree with Mr. Shaffer. This is a tragedy, what happened to Lily. However, somebody needs to be held accountable."

Sad

Geez louise! All you parents out there better not have any alcohol in the house!! You can get your kids taken away! And of course we need to arrest every parent that has lost their child to SIDS, lock them up and throw away the key cause someone has to be held accountable for a healthy child dying from no apparent cause.

Originally Posted by gmyers

If the baby was face down between her leg and the chair arm it probably suffocated and wasn't sids. Thats not a good place for a baby to be it probably couldn't get any air laying like that. Theres no telling how long the baby lay like that.

Somehow I totally missed that sentence when I first read the article.I agree,that doesn't sound right at all.

Did you also miss where the autopsy showed no evident cause of death and ruled the death SIDS? Suffocation would be apparent if that was the cause of death.