UPDATE: $1 million bail for woman suspected of killing toddler at Morgan Junction apartment; police say she admits kicking him

10:37 AM: That photo is from last Sunday night at an apartment building in the 6500 block of California SW in Morgan Junction. We went there twice that evening to ask about a police presence that lasted for several hours, and were told both times that it involved the death of a child but that it was not being investigated as a homicide. That has since changed. As first reported this morning by our regional partners at The Seattle Times, a 20-year-old woman is in jail, arrested on Thursday for investigation of homicide. The Times quotes the suspect’s boyfriend as saying he is the father of the 17-month-old boy who died. Seattle Police media relations Officer Lauren Lovanhill tells WSB that she has no further comment so far, but that they are gathering information. We’ll also find out more after the suspect appears before a judge at the downtown jail later today. So far, online records don’t show any felony criminal history for her. If this continues to be treated as a homicide case, it would be the first one in West Seattle since the still-unsolved shooting death of Stephen Jeffries Jr. on New Year’s Eve 2013.

10:53 AM: A short item has just been published on SPD Blotter, saying the toddler’s father called 911 on Sunday after finding his son “unresponsive in his crib” and that medics were unable to revive the child.

3:51 PM: The suspect waived her court appearance, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, so the hearing was held without her. According to court documents made public in connection with the hearing, the suspect is not the victim’s biological mother; she and her 2-year-old son (by another man) had been living with the victim and his father at the apartment for the past half-year or so. The court documents say the victim was at Children’s Hospital for something unrelated one week earlier when a CPS referral was made because of “bruises and scratches,” but the father reportedly attributed it to “normal toddler activity,” the police report says, and the child was sent home with him. Last Sunday afternoon, he told police that he had left his son with his girlfriend while he went to the store. When he got back, he found his son dead in his crib and called 911. The Medical Examiner determined two days later that “abdominal trauma” was what had killed the toddler. Under questioning by detectives, court documents say, she admitted kicking him in the abdomen twice after getting mad at him and her son for fighting over a toy. The first kick, she told police, knocked him down, and she kicked him again; a short time later, she discovered he wasn’t breathing. The probable-cause documents also say a couple who stayed with the suspect and her boyfriend earlier in the month reported seeing the woman display unusual anger toward her boyfriend’s son whenever the toddler cried. Today’s hearing resulted in an order to set her bail at $1 million; prosecutors have until early next week to file charges.

26 Replies to "UPDATE: $1 million bail for woman suspected of killing toddler at Morgan Junction apartment; police say she admits kicking him"

  • Mike October 2, 2015 (10:41 am)

    Just read the Seattle Times article and then saw you posted this too. It’s sickening to think of a toddler being killed deliberately. There is no place on Earth for anyone that does such things. Giving extra big hugs to my kids.

  • JanS October 2, 2015 (11:32 am)

    my heart hurts…my grandson is 17 months old…I can’t imagine….:(

  • Eric October 2, 2015 (12:26 pm)

    As someone who has a 6 1/2 month old daughter, I can’t even begin to wrap my head around the thought of intentionally harming her. I agree with Mike, there is no place on Earth for someone like that. Absolutely heart breaking. How can someone do that to their child?

  • JanS October 2, 2015 (5:35 pm)

    hoping beyond hope that her two year old son finds a home where abuse doesn’t exist…:'(

  • WS Parent October 2, 2015 (6:31 pm)

    While the father went to the store, his child was left with a woman who was most likely parented abusively herself and incapable of nurturing her own child, much less the other, younger, unrelated child in her care. This is a sad, sad story on so many levels. And at 20 years old, unless she is in prison for a long, long time, she will likely have more unfortunate children.

  • MercyMoi October 2, 2015 (6:36 pm)

    Agonizing details. So she must have put him in the crib after she kicked the life out of him? I want to vomit.

  • JamesR October 2, 2015 (7:12 pm)

    I support the death penalty.

  • Wsgal October 2, 2015 (8:31 pm)

    Sudden, violent death is traumatic enough (speaking from experience) to bring a helpless child/toddler into the mix. My heart aches for this family, the father especially that (possibly) claimed bruises and scratches a week earlier to come home and find his child dead?!?! What is going on in world today that people can’t control their most basic emotions and prefer killing, hurting or torturing other people to somehow make themselves feel better about themselves?!?! I can PROMISE you- I will be at any public trial or deposition hearing that this low life, scum bag, waste of space has and I will do everything I can to see that she NEVER sees another child laughing, crying, hugging, loving EVER EVER again. I’m so tired of these freaking COWARDS that take their selfish victim mentality and aim it toward helpless, vulnerable people. Karma is a bitch. Sorry for being so ANGRY but I can’t understand how sick some people are these days. We’d be better off with Ted Bundy- at least we would know what we are dealing with and what to look for.

  • Lez October 2, 2015 (8:41 pm)

    I’m with you James. But it will never happen in this state. Instead we’ll feed clothe and house her, provide medical dental and physiological care because she killed a baby. Keep in mind she is innocent until proven guilty. She has admitted as much though.

  • KBear October 2, 2015 (9:15 pm)

    I assume all you rabid death penalty supporters are also non-Christians in favor of higher taxes. Because that’s what it takes.

  • wscommuter October 2, 2015 (9:43 pm)

    Well said KBear. I’m all for locking her away … but the vengeance thing is hard for me to wrap my head around. The death penalty is wrong on so many levels and I am always amazed that so many who support it profess to also be good Christians. *shakes head in wonder*

  • Zanda October 2, 2015 (11:07 pm)

    This world is full of broken souls When you die…… have the courage to incarnate somewhere else next life. Nothing to be done here 😫

  • Eric October 3, 2015 (3:19 am)

     @ kbear. Are you seriously bringing in religion to scold people with? OK, then. I’ll respond.

     Sorry, I don’t believe in some egocentric/ethnocentric religion (to get an idea what I mean about that, read Chief Red Jacket’s speech on Christianity being forced onto his people) in which some guy in the sky is dishing out kudos to some and eternal damnation to others, and I have to take some guy (who’s mythology is heavily borrowed from earlier religions own deities such as Krishna for example) as my lord and savior, otherwise my soul will be tormented for eternity in hell. Silly, silly, silly. And no, I’m not an atheist, but look more towards a Taoist point of view on the metaphysical.

       As for my comment that there is no place on Earth for this woman, I was not advocating killing her, but there is no place in society for this woman and she should be locked up. 

      And as far as the death penalty, you have to be kidding attempting to make it seem people would support the death penalty on the premise that they are secular. There are many many “good Christians”  who adamantly support it. After all, in the Old Testament, God sure did! Every time a president takes us to war, claiming God is on our side (another example of ego/ethnocentricity, since a lot of God fearin folk believe this statement to be true, that God would support some of his creations to kill some of his other creations) he is essentially in support of the death penalty  on innocents, knowing full well that “collateral damage” will most likely incur with innocent women and children. Not to mention the soldiers on both sides.

      One last note since I am on the topic and this implication of tolerance and Christianity. I’m in an interracial marriage. In 1958, when I’m sure there were many more “good Christians” in the U.S., (you know, the ‘good ole days) there was the first Gallup poll. The results were that 94% were against interracial marriage. 94%! In fact, this country had anti-miscegenation laws and a Racial Integrity Act that made interracial marriage a crime in some parts. In fact, it was a felony! A FELONY!

    In the Loving v. Virginia case. This is what the good Christian judge wrote, invoking God into all of this: “Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.” ~Judge Leon M. Bazile

    So please, spare the religious lectures.

  • lox October 3, 2015 (5:55 am)

    My heart breaks for that daddy. This is devastating.

  • Brian October 3, 2015 (8:24 am)

    @Eric: that’s a lot of words for someone who completely missed the point.

  • jdm October 3, 2015 (9:01 am)

    Eric some people are more content with using GOD as a means to justify what they want than comprehending the reality of their own thoughts. Sheep

  • Eric October 3, 2015 (11:46 am)

    And what’s the point Brian? Someone made the assumption that people for the death penalty are non Christians, thus the “non Christians” being the ones driving for the death penalty. The assumption is not only absurd, but shows a disconnect in how many “good Christians” support the death penalty. But thanks for actually addressing nothing I said

  • ScubaFrog October 3, 2015 (11:59 am)

    It just doesn’t get much worse than the death of a baby or child. These kinds of things take the wind out of me when I read about them. My heart, thoughts and positive energy are with the toddler’s family and friends. What a tragedy.

  • Delmar October 3, 2015 (4:13 pm)

    FYI I don’t like bringing God into situations where so many seem to think he fits. God is not a Husky or Gougs fan. And He didn’t concern himself with who won the Superbowl. Nor is He for the Right or Left. So “real” Christians don’t support the Death Penalty? ….And for lack of a better word on my part I referred to God as He. Hmmm….Back to the real story at hand. The suspect will stand trial for her alleged crime (s) and face punishment if convicted. The punishment will be set by a judge whose authority will hopefully apply appropriate punishment for the crime.
    I won’t take credit for the following words but they are written by a “Christian”:

    How should a Christian view the death penalty? First, we must remember that God has instituted capital punishment in His Word; therefore, it would be presumptuous of us to think that we could institute a higher standard. God has the highest standard of any being; He is perfect. This standard applies not only to us but to Himself. Therefore, He loves to an infinite degree, and He has mercy to an infinite degree. We also see that He has wrath to an infinite degree, and it is all maintained in a perfect balance.

    Second, we must recognize that God has given government the authority to determine when capital punishment is due (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:1-7). It is unbiblical to claim that God opposes the death penalty in all instances. Christians should never rejoice when the death penalty is employed, but at the same time, Christians should not fight against the government’s right to execute the perpetrators of the most evil of crimes.

  • toddlers Grandma Maria October 3, 2015 (4:54 pm)

    Thank You all so much for all your responses good and bad. Our little Grandson was our pride and joy, we cared so much and still do and plan on helping our son with what ever we can. We hope to try and raise money for the expenses of laying the little one to rest. This is clearly a poor excuse and an eye opener for people on DRUGS what a pathetic excuse to take a poor innocent loving child. Again Thank You for all your responses.

  • toddlers Granpa Allen October 3, 2015 (5:04 pm)

    My Wife and I are so concerned for the baby’s father, you think you know someone and yet they turn out to be the worst evil around. We are so thankful for the time and memories we had with our little grandson. We pray this evil wicked women pays and rots wherever so goes….How would she have felt if someone kicked her OWN BOY? Thank You all for all your comments. HUG the one around you and tell them everyday ‘I LOVE YOU’ as that’s what we always say to each other and to family and friends powerful warm words that go along way. God Bless each and everyone. Allen

  • Samantha October 3, 2015 (10:21 pm)

    https://www.gofundme.com/c55jhz8s

    Please donate anything helps. Its to help with Drues funeral cost. Thank you so much.

  • chaos October 4, 2015 (8:38 am)

    i am good friends with the mother and father of the baby this has devastated both of them it was hard to watch the mother see her son for first time after his death. i have no sympathy for that girl she deserves the chair

  • AH October 4, 2015 (12:46 pm)

    A few neighbors in the area are planning to put out some flowers and toys as a memorial tonight or tomorrow. If anyone else sees this and feels compelled to do the same, please do so. Will be in front of the building somewhere. Not to replace any donations made in honor of this baby, but just to show our sorrow.

  • Vanessa Eng October 4, 2015 (3:44 pm)

    There are no words for the heartbreak of this terrible situation. To the parents, grandparents and other family, I’ll be thinking of you and I’m so sorry you have to live through this horrible pain. If you find yourselves needing support, the Journey Program through Seattle Children’s Hospital offers free one on one counseling and peer support groups. The Compassionate Friends also supports families grieving the loss of a child of any age for any reason.

  • Brandy October 8, 2015 (8:31 pm)

    “Rabid death penalty supporters”? You sure are harsh on the people who understandably want to rid the world of a person that could harm a defenseless tiny angel. How is it that these people that hate the death penalty are always so much more protective of baby killers then they are of the baby? He wasn’t just killed, he suffered unimaginably without even the comfort of somebody he loved holding him and giving words of comfort.What monsters we must be to think that it might be protecting one or more little lives by ridding the world of someone capable of such a thing. Revenge or common sense? Oh I forgot, common sense is frowned upon anymore.

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