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The mother of a 13-day-old infant who died after co-sleeping was sentenced to 30 years in the Indiana Department of Correction, according to the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor’s Office.
In July, Taylor Alexis Smith was found guilty by a jury of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, possession of methamphetamine, unlawful possession of syringe, and possession of paraphernalia.
Her Aug. 26 sentencing stems from events that took place on June 8, 2022.
According to court records, that day, police were called to a home in Evansville on a report of an unresponsive infant. Despite several attempts to resuscitate the 13-day-old baby, he was declared deceased on scene.
The home itself was extremely unsanitary, lacking running water and a proper place for the infant to sleep, police reported.
Smith admitted to recently using methamphetamine and co-sleeping with the child, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The infant, Wade Wilson, was born on May 27 and tested positive for meth at birth, according to police reports.
“Every infant death case that ends up in criminal court is preventable,” said Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers in a news release. “We must be diligent as a society to assist and hold parents who are struggling with addiction accountable and get them the resources they need – their child’s life often depends on it… Baby Wade will continue to be in our hearts and his precious, short time here on earth will inspire us to continue working to ensure we keep babies safe and hold any who do not uphold this duty accountable.”
Despite orders from the Department of Child Services and the Vanderburgh County Juvenile Court, Smith continued to have contact with her child while actively using meth.
She also continued to co-sleep with the baby despite warnings.
The infant’s father, Timothy Allen Wilson, was also charged with neglect of a dependent and drug charges in connection with the case. He’s also been charged with reckless homicide.
Wilson will go to trial in October.
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