Kansas City Woman Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter After Baby’s Death
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman faces new charges after allegedly claiming she accidentally placed her infant in an oven, leading to the baby’s tragic death.
Mariah Thomas, 26, was initially charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with first-degree child endangerment earlier this year. She pleaded not guilty to that charge. However, on Thursday, a grand jury issued a superseding indictment, adding a count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter.
The charges stem from the February 9 death of Thomas’ 1-month-old infant at a home in the 4100 block of Forest Avenue in the Manheim Park neighborhood. First responders arrived at the scene to find the child deceased, with burn marks and melted clothing on her body, as detailed in court documents.
A witness reported that Thomas had summoned him to their home, where he noticed a strong smell of smoke. According to the court filings, Thomas allegedly stated, “I thought I put [the infant] in her crib and I accidentally put her in the oven.”
Thomas remains in custody with bond set at $100,000. Her trial is scheduled to begin on January 13. This tragic incident has left many in the community shocked as the case unfolds in court.
