Missouri Mother Sentenced to 13 Years for Infant's Death After Plea Deal Drops Murder Charge

A Missouri mother will spend more than a decade incarcerated after reaching a plea agreement that resulted in the dismissal of a first-degree murder charge. The case centers on the death of her one-month-old daughter, who was found with critical burns.

Mariah Thomas, 28, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday to first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death. She received a sentence of 13 years to be served within the Missouri Department of Corrections, according to records from Jackson County court.

This sentencing concludes a legal process that began over two years ago, following the discovery of Thomas' infant daughter deceased inside a Kansas City residence.

While Thomas initially faced a first-degree murder charge, that count was dropped as part of the negotiated plea deal, court documents confirm. She was not granted probation but will receive credit for the time she has already spent in custody.

Incident Details Emerge

The tragic event unfolded in February 2022, when authorities responded to a call around 1:30 p.m. reporting a baby who was not breathing, according to charging documents. Upon arrival, Kansas City police officers discovered the one-month-old child exhibiting apparent burns across her body. Personnel from the Kansas City Fire Department pronounced the infant dead at the scene.

Investigators were informed that Thomas had intended to put her daughter down for a nap but