A Pennsylvania man and woman were arrested and charged in connection with the death of their 1-week-old newborn baby, Zanne. The victim’s mother, Ashley, 31, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child, while Travis, 34, is accused of endangering the welfare of a child. Their arrests came after a police probe into the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death at the couple’s residence in Pennsylvania.
Police in Pennsylvania responded to a 911 call soon after 2:30 a.m. on April 10. Upon arrival, they discovered the father attempting CPR on the unconscious baby, who was resting face-up on the side of a bed in the living room.
Officers observed a significant discoloration on the baby’s forehead. Emergency services were unable to revive the infant, leading to the immediate declaration of his death. The County Coroner and Children and Youth Services were alerted, and three additional children in the home were taken into protective custody.
During police interviews, the parents made conflicting statements. The baby’s father informed officers that he fell asleep around 11 p.m. and that the mother was generally in charge of feeding and putting the newborn to bed. The mother informed police that she had been breastfeeding the infant at 9:30 p.m. while lying on the bed and scrolling through social media on her phone. She claimed she must have fallen asleep with the baby in her arms and woke up to find him motionless next to her.
The newborn’s mother also revealed that, while the baby regularly sleeps in a portable crib, it was not put up that night. The father said they hadn’t gotten a crib yet when asked. Both parents acknowledged that the infant’s mother frequently fell asleep while holding the baby in bed.
Police secured a search warrant to remove blankets, pillows, and clothing from the home to acquire forensic evidence such as DNA, blood, hair, and fibers. Investigators were particularly concerned about the sleeping conditions, which they found dangerous for an infant.
District Judge RacheI arraigned both offenders. The judge set the woman’s bail at $50,000 and the man’s at $10,000, both at 10%. The preliminary hearings are planned for April 22. Local officials and child welfare advocates have expressed worry about the case, emphasizing the necessity of safe newborn sleep practices.
