How Could You? Hall of Shame-Hannah Hoag 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 Wyoming.Michigan, adoptive mother “Rebecca Cotes, 26, is accused of neglecting her daughter’s medical condition, which required a certain level of care, police said. Hannah Hoag was found dead in her crib on the morning of March 24.[2014]”

She is”charged with involuntary manslaughter in the March death of her adopted 18-month-old child.”

“The criminal allegation against Cotes comes after an investigation by Child Protective Services determined Hannah was the victim of medical neglect.

Cotes was Hannah’s adoptive mother, Capt. Kim Koster said. She declined to specify the medical condition the child suffered from.

Cotes on Wednesday, Jan. 21, waived a probable cause hearing in Wyoming District Court. She is not currently jailed, records show.[???]

Involuntary manslaughter carries a punishment of up to 15 years in prison.”

Woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in adopted daughter’s neglect death[MLive 1/21/15 by Angie Jackson]

“A 1 ½ year old girl is dead and now the baby’s mother faces involuntary manslaughter charges for the girl’s death in Wyoming nearly a year ago.

Rebecca Joy Cotes, 26, is charged with involuntary manslaughter for removing the child’s breathing tube when putting the baby to bed on March 23rd last year.[What the Hell?]

Hannah Hoag, the woman’s adopted daughter, was found dead in her crib the following morning at the family’s home on ….

The Kent County Medical Examiner’s office ruled the asphyxiation death accidental, concluding the child removed the tracheal tube that provided her with oxygen.

But in a probable cause affidavit signed by Wyoming police, detectives say the mother was grossly negligent for not attaching the appropriate medical monitoring equipment. Cote removed the tracheal tube, causing the girl’s death, court documents reveal.

The criminal complaint also alleges the child was not properly monitored, nor was the proper medical protocol used.

Cotes, the 26-year-old adoptive mother, waived a probable cause hearing today in Wyoming District Court. If convicted of involuntary manslaughter, she faces up to 15 years in prison.”

Mom charged in asphyxiation death of 1½ year old girl[WZZM 1/21/15 by John Hogan]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

 

Update:“The involuntary manslaughter trial for the mother accused of gross negligence in the death of her 18-month-old daughter is on hold as tests are conducted of equipment that was supposed to keep the toddler alive.

Rebecca Joy Cotes is accused of failing to employ monitoring equipment when she put the child, Hannah Hoag, in her crib for the night on March 26, 2014. She is charged with involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The toddler died as a result of her trachea tube being dislodged, causing her to asphyxiate, according to Kent County Medical Examiner Stephen Cohle.

Hannah had a tumor in her airway that impeded her ability to breathe, necessitating the tube, according to court records.

Wyoming Police investigators say a monitoring device meant to sound an alarm when the breathing tube was dislodged was not hooked up. Police and Child Protective Services investigated the incident for 10 months before charges were filed.

However, Cotes has maintained her innocence and her attorney, Valerie Foster of the Kent County Office of the Defender, said she is seeking additional testing of the monitoring equipment to determine if equipment failure was responsible for the child’s death.

Last week, Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark Trusock agreed to set a trial date in two to three months in order to allow for the testing.

Cotes, who adopted the 18-month-old, remains free on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.”

Mom accused of manslaughter in toddler’s asphyxiation death wants test of medical equipment[MLive 4/20/15 by Barton Deiters]

Update 2:“A Wyoming mother charged in the death of her 18-month-old daughter will likely go to prison.

After listening to four days of arguments and testimony, a jury Friday found Rebecca Cotes guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Hannah Hoag.

The toddler was found dead in her crib in March of 2014. An investigation by police and Child Protective Services found the toddler, who had a medical condition, was the victim of medical neglect.

Cotes could face up to 15 years in prison for the crime.

She’s expected back in court for sentencing Nov. 30.”

Jury: Wyoming mother guilty in toddler’s death [Wood TV 10/09/15 ]

Update 3:“The judge said he recognized even though Rebecca Joy Cotes was found responsible for the death of her 18-month-old daughter, there was no intent to do harm.

For that reason, he went below the state recommended guidelines calling for at least a year in prison and instead sentenced the 27-year-old to 135 days in the Kent County Jail.[What???So no 15 years, but 135 days… ugh]

The sentence comes three months after a jury found Cotes guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the March 23 death of 18-month-old Hanna Hoag.

Kent County Circuit Court Judge George “Jay” Quist said he felt he had to impose some
time in jail or he would be ignoring the considered judgment of the jury.

The verdict came after a wrenching four-day trial that included Cotes taking the stand to give emotional testimony in her defense.

Chief Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Christopher Becker argued Cotes showed gross negligence when she failed to hook Hanna to blood oxygen monitoring equipment after putting her to bed March 23.

During the night, Hanna’s tracheal tube slipped out, and the baby suffocated and was found late the next morning by Cote’s fiancé Zachariah Hoag.

Defense attorney Christopher Dennie argued his client was a caring and loving adoptive mother who rescued a child who was neglected and abused and gave her a good life, and the state was using hindsight to wrongly convict a parent who did what she believed was best for her child.

Becker said, although it was obvious Cotes did not intend harm and felt bad about the death, she still was negligent and should not be allowed to walk away without penalty when she could do the same thing with another child.

“This is the most difficult case I’ve ever had,” Dennie said following the Oct. 8 verdict.

Dennie told the judge Monday his client was “torn up inside” and jail would serve no good for the public or for Cotes.

Cotes said nothing during the sentence hearing and was taken from the courtroom to begin her sentence.”

4 months in jail for mom in adopted toddler’s death [M Live 1/4/16 by Barton Deiters]