Mo. mom faces involuntary manslaughter charge after allegedly 'accidentally' placing baby into oven

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (TCN) -- A mother who allegedly placed her baby into an oven by mistake, killing her, faces a new charge.

The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office said in February that Mariah Thomas was initially charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, death of a child. According to court documents, she now faces an additional charge of first-degree involuntary manslaughter.

In a redacted probable cause statement, authorities said that on Feb. 9, Kansas City Police officers responded to a report of an unresponsive baby. The 1-month-old victim suffered apparent burn injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The infant's mother, Thomas, reportedly told her grandfather when she went to put her daughter down for a nap, she "accidentally put her in the oven" instead of her crib. The grandfather called authorities and gave the baby to first responders.

According to the affidavit, the victim's clothing "appeared to have melted" onto her diaper, and officials found a baby blanket with "significant burn marks."

Thomas remains held in the Jackson County Detention Center.

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