Pacifier was taped to mouth of infant who died, police say

Published 1:27 pm Tuesday, June 19, 2007

LAKE STEVENS — The mother of a 4-month-old boy found dead Monday told police she had taped a pacifier to the baby’s mouth before putting the child down to sleep.

The mother said she woke up at around 11 a.m. Monday and discovered the baby had stopped breathing, according a police affidavit.

She called 911 and cooperated with police, Cmdr. Dan Lorentzen said.

The mother, 20, was booked into the Snohomish County Jail Monday night for investigation of first-degree manslaughter.

Rescue crews arrived but the child already showed clear signs he was dead, court documents said.

The woman told police she and her fiance, 19, had not planned to have the child.

The father had left for work early Monday and had not checked on the baby because he was “running late,” according to the documents.

Police do not plan to arrest the father, Lorentzen said.

A swaddling blanket had been used to calm the infant in the past, the father told police. He referred to the blanket as a “baby straight jacket,” courts documents said.

On Sunday night, the mother apparently couldn’t find a swaddling blanket, the documents said. Instead, she tied the infant’s arms close to his body using pajamas, the boyfriend told police.

On Monday, police searched the home in the 2600 block of Lake Drive. They removed possible evidence including baby clothes, adhesive tape and pacifiers, according a search warrant. Police also found $6,600 in the kitchen, according to the documents.

The mother was to appear before a judge today for a bail hearing.