1-month-old baby girl was found with “thermal injuries” on her body and had her clothing melted onto the diaper after her mother “mistakenly” put her in an oven instead of a cradle; arrested!

According to prosecutors, a 26-year-old mother, later identified as Mariah, has been arrested and is now facing charges for first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, Death of a Child, after the tragic death of her 1-month-old baby girl, whose identity has not been revealed due to her age. As per reports, the mother was putting the baby to sleep, but instead of the crib, she “mistakenly” placed her in the oven.

Authorities were called to the residence of Mariah last week following reports of an emergency involving a non-breathing infant. When the first responders arrived, they discovered a shocking scene: the baby was lying in a car seat inside the living room, with apparent burn injuries all over her body and her clothing melted over the diaper. Paramedics pronounced the 1-month-old dead at the scene.

The investigation showed Mariah called her father, the baby’s grandfather, asking him to return home immediately because “something was wrong with the baby.” Mariah also called her mother and yelled hysterically over the phone. The baby’s grandfather told investigators that he smelled smoke upon entering the home and found the baby dead in the crib. The investigation quickly focused on the circumstances leading to the baby’s injuries, with Mariah telling investigators a profoundly troubling account of mistaking the oven for a crib. She reportedly told authorities she “was putting her child down for a nap and accidentally placed the child in the oven instead of the crib.”

According to responding officers, the baby had “thermal injuries” over her body and was dressed in a bodysuit over a diaper that appeared to have melted onto it. They also found a blanket with “significant burn marks” in the living room, which was taken as evidence. A friend of Mariah highlighted potential mental health issues that may have contributed to the incident, suggesting that Mariah faced challenges that impacted her perception and decision-making abilities. When taken to police headquarters, Mariah decided to remain silent and plead the Fifth Amendment. She is currently being held at the county’s detention center.