WITI-TV, MILWAUKEE -
Drinking and co-sleeping is what's at the center of a second degree reckless homicide case against a 30-year-old Milwaukee mother. Rose Prescott is accused of sleeping with her 6-day-old daughter on a couch, and suffocating the newborn.
Investigators say on the morning of March 6, 2009 Rose Prescott admitted three things, she was drunk, she did not recall what time she got home, and she placed her daughter face up on the couch. Prescott says she cannot explain how the infant died.
Two weeks ago Prescott told Milwaukee police she woke up to find her 6-day-old daughter lifeless, with her face in the couch's cushion.
The downstairs neighbor of Prescott says the babies lips were blue, but tried CPR anyway. The neighbor described Prescott's demeanor as, "Real frantic, upset, like I can't do this no more, this just happened to me last year."
The neighbor is referring to an incident in 2008 when Prescott shared a twin mattress with two children. She admitted she'd been drinking and fell asleep with the two children. Prescott later woke up to find her two-month-old child dead. The incident was ruled a sudden death, with a co-sleeping as a significant factor.
Investigator Genevieve Penn stated in court, "She(Prescott) stated she had been drinking. She stated that she had drank some Bicardi around 4 in the afternoon, but later on she had been at a party." That's what Prescott told Penn she did on Saturday March 7, 2009. Penn says Prescott still smelled like intoxicants the following morning.
In July the medical examiner ruled the death accidental suffocation from co-sleeping, but Court Commissioner Barry Sagle still found reckless intent. Sagle said, "The statement of the defendant that she was intoxicated and she may have fallen asleep on the child all supports the fact there is probable cause a crime's been committed and deny your motion to dismiss."
If convicted of 2nd degree reckless homicide, Prescott could be sentenced to a maximum of 25-years in prison or a $100,000 fine or both.
Investigators say on the morning of March 6, 2009 Rose Prescott admitted three things, she was drunk, she did not recall what time she got home, and she placed her daughter face up on the couch. Prescott says she cannot explain how the infant died.
Two weeks ago Prescott told Milwaukee police she woke up to find her 6-day-old daughter lifeless, with her face in the couch's cushion.
The downstairs neighbor of Prescott says the babies lips were blue, but tried CPR anyway. The neighbor described Prescott's demeanor as, "Real frantic, upset, like I can't do this no more, this just happened to me last year."
The neighbor is referring to an incident in 2008 when Prescott shared a twin mattress with two children. She admitted she'd been drinking and fell asleep with the two children. Prescott later woke up to find her two-month-old child dead. The incident was ruled a sudden death, with a co-sleeping as a significant factor.
Investigator Genevieve Penn stated in court, "She(Prescott) stated she had been drinking. She stated that she had drank some Bicardi around 4 in the afternoon, but later on she had been at a party." That's what Prescott told Penn she did on Saturday March 7, 2009. Penn says Prescott still smelled like intoxicants the following morning.
In July the medical examiner ruled the death accidental suffocation from co-sleeping, but Court Commissioner Barry Sagle still found reckless intent. Sagle said, "The statement of the defendant that she was intoxicated and she may have fallen asleep on the child all supports the fact there is probable cause a crime's been committed and deny your motion to dismiss."
If convicted of 2nd degree reckless homicide, Prescott could be sentenced to a maximum of 25-years in prison or a $100,000 fine or both.
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