DE SOTO: Suspect in child's death under $1 million cash-only bond
Toddler beaten with a stick, police say
 |
| Mabery |
|
De Soto Police Chief Ernest Paul said officers and emergency personnel were called to an apartment at 420 N. Eighth St. around 3:30 a.m. Monday after Tolbert reported his son, Stacey Tolbert-Wyatt, was not breathing.
Valle Ambulance personnel attempted to resuscitate the boy at the scene and en route to Jefferson Memorial Hospital, but all attempts failed, Paul said.Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Forrest Wegge said Mabery, who remains in the Jefferson County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond, has been charged with abuse of a child resulting in death, a Class A felony. If convicted, she could face a sentence of 10 to 30 years or life in prison.
Mabery has also been charged with armed criminal action, which carries a minimum sentence of three years.
Wegge said she allegedly had beaten the child with a stick.
Tolbert, who is also in the Jefferson County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a Class C felony that could get him up to seven years in prison.
"He failed to get the child medical care," Wegge said. "He arrived home from work and waited a couple hours before he called for help even though he allegedly knew the child was in distress."
Paul said when police arrived Tolbert had reported the child was having breathing difficulties earlier in the evening and he had gone into the child's room to check on him.
Tolbert told police he had called an ambulance after trying unsuccessfully to waken the child.
The charges stemmed from an autopsy performed Monday afternoon that showed signs of physical abuse, Paul said.
Authorities said an investigator from the Family Support Division took an infant from the home into protective custody Monday. Paul said there were no signs of physical abuse to that child.
Paul reported there had been six calls to the residence since September 2007, with three being peace disturbances.
