How Could You?Hall of Shame-Miles Aiden Zane Stead case-Child Death UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Sioux Falls, South Dakota, foster mother, Mary Beth Jennewein, 32, “faces murder and manslaughter charges in the January [6, 2016]death of her two-year-old foster child.”

“Officer Sam Clemens says the coroner determined the boy died of traumatic brain injury and police yesterday arrested 32-year-old Mary Beth Jennewein.

Clemens says before the coroner’s report was released detectives had been working on the case.  He says investigators believe the only person at the home with the victim at the time was his foster mother. Jennewein was arrested yesterday on a million dollar cash bond.

The boy was hospitalized for breathing problems and days later taken off life support.”

Sioux Falls Foster Mom Accused of Killing Two Year Old/ [Kelo 3/8/16 by Jack Taylor]

“Mary Beth Jennewein, 32, of Sioux Falls, was arrested yesterday after the Sioux Falls Coroner ruled the death of her two-year-old foster child a homicide, determining cause of death to be traumatic brain injury. Police say the child had been in her custody since September 2015.

First responders reached Jennewein’s home in the …. in Sioux Falls just after 10 p.m. on January 4 when they received a call for a child with breathing problems. Police say no suspicious activity was noticed at the time and the boy was admitted to the hospital.

Sioux Falls Police Spokesman Sam Clemens says it was after the radiologist noticed skull fractures on the two-year-old that police were notified. The child was taken off life support and passed away on January 6.

After continued police investigation and the coroner’s autopsy was completed, police arrested Jennewein yesterday. Police say she’s charged with second-degree murder, as well as four alternate counts of first-degree manslaughter.”

Sioux Falls Foster Mother Arrested In Death Of Two-Year-Old Boy [Kdlt 3/8/16]

“In an affidavit, police were told the child was laid down to bed at 7:45 p.m., and woke up at around 10 p.m. screaming. His foster mother tried to comfort him when the child starting gasping for air. She told police that she gave the child puffs from an inhaler, and performed CPR when he went limp shortly after.

First responders said the child was pale, gasping for air and had pink foam coming from his mouth. The child was then transported to a local hospital.

Clemens said a foster mother is believed to be the only person inside the apartment. He said the child’s 7-year-old sister also lived at the apartment.”

“At around midnight, police said a radiologist found a skull fracture in a CT scan. Clemens said the child died after he was removed from life support on Jan. 6.”

Foster Mother Charged With 2-Year-Old Child’s Death [Keloland 3/8/16 by Brandon Van Westen ]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: They named him: Miles Aiden Zane Stead.

“The Sioux Falls foster mother accused of killing a 2-year-old boy was indicted Thursday on murder and manslaughter charges.

Mary Beth Jennewein faces a mandatory life in prison sentence if convicted of second-degree murder and four counts of first-degree manslaughter.

The 32-year-old was charged in the death of Miles Aiden Zane Stead after the county coroner’s report ruled that traumatic brain injury was the cause of death.

The boy was hospitalized on Jan. 4 after Jennewein found him gasping for air in bed, according to an arrest affidavit.

A radiologist who conducted a CT scan on the child found a skull fracture and blood on his brain. The injury “looked pretty serious,” the affidavit said.

Stead died on Jan. 6 after showing almost no brain activity.

During an interview with law enforcement, Jennewein told law enforcement that the boy was known to hit his head a lot. Officers had not yet informed Jennewein that the child had suffered head trauma, the affidavit said.

Officers later reviewed surveillance video from the day care Stead attended. They observed he was “very active” and “received no hits to the back of his head.”

Jennewein was arrested soon after.”

Foster mom accused of murder says boy often hit his head [Argus Leader 3/18/16 by Mark Walker]

Update 2:“A Sioux Falls foster mother charged in the death of a 2-year-child has pleaded guilty to aggravated battery of an infant.

The charge Mary Beth Jennewein faces carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Prosecutors dropped second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter charges she had faced.

The 32-year-old was charged in the death of Miles Aiden Zane Stead after the county coroner concluded that traumatic brain injury was the cause of death.

The boy was hospitalized Jan. 4 for a breathing problem. Jennewein told first responders that the baby woke up screaming and that she had been trying to comfort him when he began to gasp for air, according to court documents. She said she then gave the toddler CPR until paramedics arrived.

It was later determined that the boy suffered a life-threatening head injury and had limited brain activity, court records show. The boy died after being taken off life support on Jan. 6.

During an interview with law enforcement, Jennewein said the boy was known to hit his head a lot. Officers had not yet informed Jennewein that the child had suffered head trauma, the affidavit said.

Officers later reviewed surveillance video from the day care Stead attended. They observed he was “very active” and “received no hits to the back of his head.”

Jennewein was arrested soon after.”

Foster mother charged in child’s death pleads to aggravated battery[Argus Leader 10/25/16 by Mark Walker]