Leavenworth woman pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of her baby
A Leavenworth woman admitted her role in the death of her baby according to a news release from the Leavenworth County Attorney.
Catherine Smith, 32, pleaded guilty in Leavenworth County Court Friday to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated child endangerment and obstruction of law enforcement.
Smith was originally charged with second-degree murder for the death of her son.
The child died in November 2018 at an area hospital of hyperthermia, a condition caused by high body temperature, according to a coroner’s court testimony.
According to the release, the coroner testified that the child was dehydrated and was subject to “high environmental temperature.” The temperature in the house, police said, was set at 75 degrees.
When the child was found unresponsive in the home, the release said, Smith had not checked on him in “some time.”
She allegedly initially lied to police about the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
“Every child should be a parent’s number one priority,” Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in the release. “This death should never have occurred.”
Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 28.
This story was originally published January 11, 2020 at 4:11 PM.
