In Minnesota, a 53-year-old woman has been taken into custody for allegedly operating an unlicensed daycare, following the tragic death of a 2-month-old infant who was found unresponsive in a “cluttered” portable playard.

The woman, identified as Janel Kay Dierkhising, is now facing charges of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Karson Asfeld in Sauk Centre, a town located approximately 100 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

According to court documents obtained by Law&Crime, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office received a distress call shortly before 2:30 p.m. on November 11, 2025, regarding a child who had stopped breathing at a residence on the 3000 block of County Road 186. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Dierkhising administering CPR to the infant. Paramedics quickly transported the child to a nearby hospital, but he was sadly pronounced dead.

Dierkhising recounted to the authorities that she had been taking care of the baby and had put him down for a nap in a portable playard. After not hearing any sounds for a while, she went to check on him and reported finding him lying on his side with his face pressed into a blanket. Upon picking him up, she heard a “wheezing sound” and noticed that his lips had turned blue, according to the police report.

Realizing that Karson was not breathing, she promptly dialed 911. Deputies observed a distinct pattern on the infant’s face, suggesting he had been pressed against a surface, likely a blanket. They described the playard as “extremely cluttered,” containing a nursing pillow and two blankets. The playard had several warnings advising against adding items such as mattresses, pillows, or comforters, emphasizing that only the manufacturer-provided mattress pad should be used. The warnings highlighted the risk of death if these guidelines were not followed, as noted in the affidavit.

The authorities reported that an autopsy concluded the infant’s death was due to “suffocation caused by an unsafe sleep environment.”

Investigators spoke to Karson’s mother, who said her son was born healthy and she was paying Dierkhising $150 to watch the boy four days a week. Cops also interviewed parents of other children who said they had previously seen blankets in a portable playard. Parents had allegedly told Dierkhising that it was not an “acceptable way” for babies to sleep.

Dierkhising in an interview with deputies said she has been running the unlicensed day care out of her home for about 10 years. Deputies learned that Stearns County Human Services sent Dierkhising a letter about six years ago outlining scenarios in which she would be required to obtain a license to run a day care, cops say. The defendant allegedly responded to the letter saying she was disabled and not running a day care.

She was arrested on Monday and taken to the Stearns County Jail. She has since posted bond. If she’s convicted, she could face up to 10 years in prison. Her next court date is set for May 11.

A GoFundMe account description explained that Karson’s mom, Nicole Asfeld, returned to work earlier than they wanted to because they needed to provide for their family.

“Nicole carried Karson for nine months, brought him into this world, and loved him with every part of her heart,” the description said. “She had just begun bonding with her little boy, learning his expressions, his cries, his warmth, and in a single moment, her entire world shattered. No mother should ever have to walk this painful path, especially so soon after giving birth.”