(Lawrenceburg, IN) – A mother has been arrested in Dearborn County in connection with the death of her infant son.
22-year-old Raeleigh Phillips is charged with Neglect of a Dependent Resulting in Death (Level 1 felony) and Reckless Homicide (Level 5 felony).
Lawrenceburg Police were called to an apartment on Bellaire Drive the morning of Sunday, March 3 on a report of an unresponsive infant.
The baby was taken to St. Elizabeth Dearborn where it was determined that he was dead.
The investigation determined the infant had been dead for an extended period of time prior to first responders’ arrival.
Dearborn County Prosecutor Lynn Deddens says the baby had been in Phillips’ care and that she allegedly left the infant strapped in a car seat for about 13 hours.
Phillips claimed she had fallen asleep and then found her son slouched in the car seat.
Authorities say further investigation revealed the infant hadn’t been fed for about 14 hours and that he was wearing a soiled diaper.
An arrest warrant was issued for Phillips on Tuesday. She was located and arrested that afternoon.
An autopsy determined the probable cause of death was positional asphyxia.
At an initial hearing Wednesday in Dearborn Superior Court II, Judge Sally McLaughlin set Phillips’ bond at $200,000 surety and $7,500 cash.
