Spokane7
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October 12, 2010 in Idaho
Baby sitter in boy’s death: ‘It was all my fault’
A Post Falls baby sitter accused of murdering a 3-year-old boy told police after failing a polygraph test, “I hurt a poor little defenseless boy … And it was all my fault,” documents released Tuesday say.
Amanda L. Skogen, 25, remains in Kootenai County Jail on $1 million bail after appearing in First District Court on a first-degree murder charge Tuesday.
Skogen replied “uh, yes,” when asked if she understood the charge against her, which is punishable by up to life in prison or the death penalty.
Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh said Skogen is a flight risk and emphasized that while she cooperated with investigators, she didn’t confess until she failed the polygraph exam.
McHugh said Skogen was on her knees when she shoved Cohen Johnson on Oct. 4 “in a very violent manner, causing him to fall back and hit his head.”
“The injuries were immediately debilitating,” McHugh said.
Cohen was taken off life support at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center on Friday. Skogen was arrested on a first-degree murder charge shortly after. Police say she had already confessed after she failed a polygraph on Oct. 5.
Prosecutors have 60 days to decide whether to seek the death penalty against Skogen, who has no criminal history.
Police reports describe the unemployed Skogen as a native of Riverton, Wyo.. News archives show she married Matthew D. Skogen, the son of Spokane County sheriff’s Deputy David Skogen, in 2004.
The couple were at the deputy’s home after Cohen was hospitalized Monday night; police reached Amanda there and she agreed to go to the police station in Post Falls for an interview.
Skogen initially denied hurting the boy and said she believed he had the flu and fell while she was changing his wet pants. The boy showed no obvious signs of trauma, and police said the home appeared “clean and well kept.” Officers described Skogen as “very shaken and concerned.” She traveled with the boy’s mother to the hospital and sent text messages that night inquiring about his condition.
Medics first thought Cohen ingested a poisonous material, but a doctor at Kootenai Medical Center discovered two skull fractures she said were “not accidental.”
The boy also had bruising on his face that the doctor said was caused by someone grabbing his face and pulling his right ear. Cohen also had a healing black eye, but Skogen said it was caused by Cohen colliding with her dog.
She later said she became “frustrated and angry” with Cohen after he urinated in his pants and on her as the two were napping on her couch. She said she shoved him and he fell back and hit his head, which made a “cracking noise,” according to a police report. She told police she slapped the boy and shook his face to try to revive him.
“Amanda said she most likely did this out of nervousness and the knowledge that she had just done something terrible,” according to the report.
Cohen’s 2-year-old sister was present at the time.
“This is not a freak accident or fluke,” said Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug. “This is somebody who acted out of anger, shoved a child and caused his death.”
Police say Skogen had cared for the boy, who his father said called her “Aunt Amanda,” since June. Matt Skogen knows the boy’s father, Jeremy R. Johnson, from high school, according to the police report.
Johnson and Cohen’s mother, Jennifer A. Gamble, are separated, and Skogen had been caring for Cohen at her home on North Elm Road since about June while his parents worked.
Cohen’s parents have declined to speak to media but thanked Cohen’s supporters and Sacred Heart staff in a prepared statement Tuesday.
“We will remember Cohen not for the way he left us, but for the brilliant life he gave us,” his parents wrote. “We sincerely hope others might do the same.”
Johnson described Cohen to police as “the most amazing child” who was active and had good communication skills.
Human trafficking suspects released 
andjusticeforall on October 12 at 3:09 p.m.
hang her
carisa on October 12 at 3:25 p.m.
FIrst degree murder? Please. I’m sure this was not pre-meditated. Negligent, cruel, and horrific, yes. Murder, no.
DeCaYeD on October 12 at 3:51 p.m.
Carisa……are you stupid?
JKW on October 12 at 4:06 p.m.
After reading the death of the 3 year old boy by Skogen, then finding out that tghe boy only wet his pants; does that give Skogen the right to push, shove, what ever for a little boy who only wet his pants. I would like to know what was going on in her mind during that incident? Was Skogen temproialy insane, mad, had a fight with a boy friend, what? Second, does she have any remourse for what she did? Was Skogn on any kind of drugs in her system? Personally I think it “MIGHT” be an accident, but on the other hand, I do not know what was going through her mind when the accident happened. Does Skogen belong in prision or does she need tyo bne put to death…has she done this to anyon else? I think that Skogen probably needs to be in prision for at least 30 years at her expense not the tax payers.
carisa on October 12 at 4:20 p.m.
All I’m saying is I don’t think she woke up that morning thinking: “Gee, I think I’ll kill a small child today”. I realize I may be biased because she’s got no record and is female. I just don’t think she was in her right mind. The Summer Phelps case a couple years ago was similar except there was some deliberate and heinous cruelty involved and the mom did nothing to stop it. This looks more like a horrible moment of anger / abuse that got out of hand, definitely she needs to go to jail. I just don’t think it’s murder one…
dukkandpooh on October 12 at 4:53 p.m.
You’re not alone, Carisa. First degree murder is what Joseph Duncan faced. How can you even compare the crimes he committed with this? Ryan Jabaay was beyond drunk when he crashed into a car in Coeur d’Alene 2 years ago and killed Sawyer Frisbie. His charge: vehicular manslaughter. His sentence? 2 years. The laws here in Idaho are written in a way that allows the charge of first degree murder, but that prosecutor would have to be nuts to make this a death penalty case. He surely wouldn’t want me on that jury. She lost her temper and a tragic, tragic injury occurred leading to that beautiful little boy’s death. So many lives are forever changed…my prayers are with all of these people!
lewis8457 on October 12 at 8:53 p.m.
the babysitter was sleeping on the couch with the little boy, but it said the boys 2 year old sister saw the whole thing what was she doing while they were napping just hanging out on her own?
Nahzuul on October 12 at 9:17 p.m.
Carisa, Murder does not have to be premeditated, as if she planed it all day. “With malice aforethought,” may require only that it was done out of anger (ill will). One of the four states of mind constituting malice is reckless indifference to an unjustifiably high risk to human life. A jury or a judge may decide if that was the case here.
A Hyatt, ignorance of the law will either be quickly remedied by the judge, or you will be disqualified for jury duty.
It is a sad, sad, day when a coward takes anger out on a defenseless child. A murder committed out of anger deserves a harsh punishment.
PlanB on October 12 at 10:37 p.m.
Terrible, sad, tragic. A mistake that had consequences far beyond the act itself. But a death penalty? That is cruel and unusual.
Unfortunately for her she isn’t a law enforcement officer. She’d be on paid vacation in Vegas by now.
mebythesea on October 13 at 5:29 a.m.
This is absolutely heartbreaking, but I agree with some of the others here. This is not a first-degree murder case. My heart breaks for all concerned…including the babysitter. She, of course, is totally responsible for this precious child’s death, but I don’t think she deserves a life sentence or the death penalty.
thinkoutsidethebox on October 31 at 12:56 p.m.
Based on how the Idaho state law is written, it IS first degree murder! How can you all say it isn’t based on your understanding of what first degree is? It does not have to be premeditated…Idaho only requires that there be intent to harm a child for it to become 1st degree. In fact, in doing a web search, the jury instructions state:
“In order for the defendant to be guilty of First Degree Murder in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, a felony, the state must prove each of the following:
1. On or about [date]
2. in the state of Idaho
3. the murder was committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, [an aggravated battery on a child under twelve (12) years of age] [arson] [rape] [robbery] [burglary] [kidnapping] [mayhem] [an act of terrorism] [use of a [weapon of mass destruction] [or] [biological weapon] [or] [chemical weapon]].
To prove [name of defendant] guilty of first degree murder in this way, the state does not have to prove that the defendant intended to kill [name of decedent], but the state must prove that during the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate [name of crime], the defendant [,or another person who was acting in concert with the defendant in furtherance of a common plan or scheme to commit [name of crime],] killed [name of decedent].
If you find that the state has failed to prove any of the above, you must find the defendant not guilty of first degree murder. If you find that all of the above have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, then you must find the defendant guilty of first degree murder.]”
In what world is pushing a child so hard he falls and cracks his skull not an action intending to cause harm? Sadly, her action resulted in his death.
ambworth on December 03 at 1:24 p.m.
That 3 yr old child could do nothing to protect himself from her, yes its sad she young and did something she has to live with and she did the crime now she has to do the time. The boy is dead and his family has to live with this,as does her family but she has to pay for her crime. How many can say there same comments if this was your baby boy really think about it in that way.