News Alert

Prosecutor to seek probation for two women in baby's death
Prosecutors will seek probation and counseling for two women charged with misdemeanors in the death of a 4-month-old, according to a release issued by District Attorney Ed Jagels Wednesday afternoon.

Brenda Kay Stockman, the grandmother of a 4-month-old killed in a car accident Feb. 8, has been charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and misdemeanor willful cruelty to a child.

Her daughter, Sandy Jo Stockman, was also charged with misdemeanor willful cruelty to a child. Both women were arrested Monday on suspicion of committing felonies.

The baby, Kayden, wasn’t in a car seat when the car she was in collided with a pickup truck as the women rushed to the hospital to get Sandy treatment for an asthma attack.

Brenda was driving the car and Sandy held the baby as they rushed to the hospital, horn blaring and hazard lights on. They collided with a pickup. The baby was crushed between her mother and the seat belt, according to the release.

Jagels also said in the release that the women were arrested Monday because police had information that one of the women might leave the area "to avoid responsibility."

By Mom2three1968 on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 07:35 am:

OMG almighty!!! What the h#*ll is wrong with people?!! Gosh I cannot believe it! I hope they are mentally tortured the rest of their lives... Poor little baby.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 07:38 am:

It doesn't take THAT long to buckle a baby into a carseat! Why didn't they just call 911 if it was that crucial?

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 08:07 am:

I hear too many stories like this.

By Breann on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 11:53 am:

So so sad

Our annoying neighbors let their baby ride in the "trunk" of their jeep. There is no backseat, so they just sit the infant seat in the back, and off they go. I always cringe when I see them open the back of the jeep to load her in.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 12:06 pm:

OK, I do not believe in not wearing seatbelts BUT...I wonder if this is a case where the child was in her arms so she could try to help the baby breath? My daughter has had bad asthma attacks. If we did not actively help her (inhalor, etc) she would not be here. I can see that throwing a child in a car with a seatbelt on could cause the child to stop breathing in the seat.
Do I agree with what they did--NO. I do wonder why they chose not to belt the baby in. If it were me, i would have called for an ambulance.

By Tink on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 12:10 pm:

Yvonne, I believe the mother was having the asthma attack, not the baby.

There is just no excuse for not taking a minute, even in this type of situation, to buckle the baby into a carseat. The consequences of their choice will never be forgotten.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 12:14 pm:

Oh sorry! I read it wrong. I thought it was the baby having the attack. That definitely puts it in another light.
WRONG-WRONG-WRONG!!!!!

By Amecmom on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 12:30 pm:

Ditto Dawn. Call 911 if you don't have time to put a baby in a car seat. Too sad.
Ame

By Kate on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 12:46 pm:

Breann,I would call the police and CPS if I were you. They aren't strapping that seat to anything and not only is the baby in grave danger, but so are they from that heavy seat becoming a violent projectile object in a crash!

By Vicki on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 04:08 pm:

Wow....

By Breann on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 08:44 pm:

We did call the police a few months ago and anonymously gave them the plate number and address. However, I didn't ever see the police show up. And, they are still doing it, so I'm assuming it was never followed through with.
Maybe another call is in order.

By Justanaunt on Thursday, March 1, 2007 - 11:27 pm:

That's a heartbreaking and such a preventable story.

I was in a parking lot a few years ago and saw someone I had went to school with get into her car and take off while having her toddler stand in her lap holding on to the steering wheel. If she would have had an accident, her child would have been her air bag. That is if the child didn't fly through the windshield.

Anyway, when I saw her doing this, I took off to follow her so I could get her license plate number, but I couldn't catch up to her.