Jaley Bush, 28, was charged on Nov. 21 with child endangerment resulting in death after an infant was found unresponsive and headfirst in a trash can at a Keokuk, Iowa, apartment on Jan. 27. Bush told investigators she had taken Klonopin and fell asleep with the child beside her; she later said the infant may have crawled into the trash can. A blood test on Jan. 28 detected methamphetamine and benzodiazepines. The infant died on Feb. 5 and the autopsy listed asphyxiation as the cause of death.
28-Year-Old Mother Charged After Infant Found Headfirst In Trash Can; Autopsy Cites Asphyxiation
Lee County JailJaley Bush
A 28-year-old woman, Jaley Bush, has been charged with child endangerment resulting in death after an infant was found unresponsive and headfirst inside a trash can at an apartment in Keokuk, Iowa, on Jan. 27, according to court records.
Incident Details
Authorities say the child was discovered in a basement bedroom around 2 p.m. Bush, who was visiting a friend that day, told investigators she had taken Klonopin (a benzodiazepine) and fell asleep with the infant beside her on the inner portion of the bed. When she awoke, she reported the baby was unresponsive and positioned headfirst inside a nearby trash can. She told investigators the infant may have crawled over or around her and then fallen into the receptacle.
Emergency responders administered life-saving measures and transported the child to the hospital. A blood sample taken from Bush on Jan. 28 tested positive for methamphetamine and benzodiazepines, authorities reported. The child died on Feb. 5; the medical examiner listed asphyxiation as the cause of death.
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Charges And Next Steps
On Nov. 21, Bush was charged with child endangerment resulting in death in connection with the Jan. 27 incident, according to charging documents obtained by PEOPLE. The Lee County Attorney’s Office was contacted for comment. The charge is an allegation; the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Help And Resources
If you suspect child abuse or need assistance, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Note: This summary is based on charging documents and media reporting. Details may be updated as the investigation and legal process continue.
