Oklahoma – In a heart‑wrenching case in Oklahoma, a 31‑year‑old mother, identified as S. Jamison, has been charged with child neglect after her 5‑month‑old infant son was found unresponsive and later died. Authorities allege that Jamison, intoxicated and suffering from postpartum depression, passed out on her sleeping baby, leading to his tragic death. Prosecutors say her actions amount to reckless endangerment of a child and highlight a critical breach of care.
The fatal incident unfolded in the early hours of October 18 at the family’s home. Police were dispatched around 5:44 a.m. after the baby’s father discovered his son not breathing and began CPR. The child was gray and unresponsive and was transported to a local hospital, where medical staff pronounced him dead. When law‑enforcement officers arrived, they found Jamison in bed, unresponsive until officers shouted, shined a flashlight in her face, and shook the mattress for nearly two minutes. She smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech, and needed assistance walking to a couch in the living room. Police say her blood alcohol concentration—measured later that morning—was 0.309, nearly four times the legal driving limit.
In her own words, Jamison told officers, “If my kid is dead, I might as well be too,” and “I said I needed help, I tried to get help.” During her investigation, Jamison claimed she had consumed a six‑pack of beer and a shot of rum the night before. She also admitted she had begun drinking about six weeks after giving birth, citing struggling with postpartum depression more than she had with her other children. Investigators say the child was placed on his stomach on an adult bed surrounded by pillows while Jamison and the child’s father co-slept. Authorities constantly warn that infants should sleep separately from adult beds due to risks of suffocation, re‑breathing, or rolling into pillows or bedding.
Jamison is currently lodged at the county jail, held without bond. She is charged with child neglect and is scheduled to be arraigned in court shortly. Authorities say the charges reflect the severity of the incident and her admitted state of intoxication and mental health struggles at the time. Prosecutors have not announced their intent to pursue higher charges, such as manslaughter, but the community and law‑enforcement officials alike stress the case underscores how alcohol, untreated postpartum depression, and unsafe sleep practices can converge into fatal outcomes.
The child was described in his online obituary as a bright light who brought “immense joy, laughter, and light into our lives.” His family is left mourning a child whose life did not even reach six months, and whose death reflects tragedy not only of alcohol‑impaired caretaking but also of missed alarms and avoidable risks. While the court process moves forward, Jamison’s admission that she “needed help” stands as haunting final words before a life was ended. In the months ahead, the community will be watching closely—not just for justice in the courtroom, but for systemic changes that might prevent another baby from sleeping in the wrong bed, under the wrong conditions, with no one awake to help.
