No Charges Filed In Baby’s Death

Despite a violation of city ordinances, no charges will be filed in the February aspiration death of a 6-month-old baby in Moscow, Latah County Prosecutor William Thompson says.

“The primary issue was the number of children; that’s what dictates if (a day-care) needs to be licensed,” he said. “Reports indicate that on the day the death occurred, (the provider) was over the number of children needed to be licensed, but that did not justify criminal charges.”

According to the coroner’s report, Jashelle Baab, daughter of Shad and Heather Baab, died by drowning in her vomit while lying face down on a soft water bed.

Thompson said on that day, the baby-sitter was watching two children of a friend as a favor. Another infant died in 1991 while under the care of the same sitter.

The cause of that death was attributed to sudden infant death syndrome.

After the February incident, Moscow Detective Neil Odenborg said that while the deaths occurred with the same provider, there was no evidence either baby was mistreated.

“She got caught in a bind with people who asked her to help out,” Thompson said. “That’s not a criminal act. As far as I know, there are no other agencies looking into the situation.”