An Ohio woman has pleaded not guilty after a grand jury charged her with manslaughter after two of her babies died from co-sleeping in Cincinnati.
23-year-old Brooke Hunter made her first court appearance on Wednesday. Prosecutors decided to charge Hunter after her 6-week-old son died in June.
Now, her attorney says she’s 12 weeks pregnant with twins. Her due date is in April.
Hunter is charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering children.
Prosecutors say investigators had warned the 23-year-old about the dangers of co-sleeping after the first baby, her daughter, died at was 6 weeks old.
They say Hunter did it again, leading to the death of her son, Rev’hir Ferrell.
So, the coroner ruled his death a homicide and the court issued a warrant for Hunter last month.
Hunter’s attorney says she had complained about mold and mice in her apartment to the health department and says her son had a history of health issues.
“Brooke and her mother have told me all along that Rev’hir had breathing issues. He had respiratory issues. Here’s a whole folder I’ve been handed this morning of documentation for both Rev’hir and his sister river, who unfortunately is also factoring into this hearing this morning,” Edward Kathman, defense attorney, said during the court hearing.
Prosecutors had asked for a $1 million bond to keep Hunter in custody to make sure she was receiving prenatal care.
The judge set it at $250,000 for a health assessment.
He ruled she’d be released onto electronic monitoring at Bethany House after a second court hearing in two weeks.
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