2 Charged In Death Of Infant Released

A Jerome couple charged with neglecting their infant son, who died Dec. 5, have been released from jail pending continuation of their preliminary hearing.

Orlando Manuel Vargas Jr., 20, and Stacey L. Chambers, 21, are charged with felony neglect of a child. Jerome County Sheriff’s Detective Dan Chatterton said their baby, 2-month-old Orlando Manuel Vargas III, died from apparent suffocation while sleeping face down on a couch.

Chatterton said the baby had suffered from jaundice, respiratory problems and ear infections during his brief life. He was hospitalized overnight on Oct. 19 for dehydration and failure to thrive, the detective said, and the night he died Orlando slept with his face down in the depression of an old couch, surrounded by garbage and four sleeping adults.

A preliminary hearing began Friday for the couple and will continue on Dec. 29.