Charges unlikely for dead baby’s mother

EVERETT – No cause has been established for the death of a baby whose mother had taped a pacifier to his face, and she probably will not be prosecuted for murder or manslaughter, Snohomish County prosecutors say.

Bonnie M. Desmond, 19, of Lake Stevens, was charged with first-degree manslaughter after Noah James Petersen, 4 months, was found dead in his crib June 18. She told investigators she used a couple of strips of transparent tape to hold a pacifier in the baby’s mouth to help him get to sleep.

The charge was dismissed in early July because the case had not been brought to Snohomish County Superior Court within the deadline to meet a speedy trial requirement.

Subsequently, the county medical examiner’s office determined the pacifier had nothing to do with the infant’s death, Deputy Prosecutor Craig Matheson said.

“The medical examiner can’t explain the child’s death,” Matheson said. “Certainly there’s no manslaughter. The chance of us filing any criminal charge is slim.”

He said he would meet with detectives to determine whether a lesser charge would be warranted.

Desmond would not comment and her lawyer, Karen Ann Halverson, of Everett, said Thursday she had not been told that her client would not be prosecuted on manslaughter or murder charges.

“If that’s the case, I’m happy to hear that. I’m relieved,” Halverson said.

“It’s always tragic when a child dies,” Halverson added.

Desmond’s father, Rick Desmond, said she was especially unhappy that she could not attend her baby’s funeral because she was in jail and was barred from even listening to the eulogy by cellular telephone.

“She feels a lot of things connected with this were unfair,” he said. “I think she would rather that this just go away.”