Background: The Lee County Jail in Montrose, Iowa (Google Maps). Inset: Jaley Bush (Lee County Sheriff”s Office).
In a tragic turn of events in Iowa, a young mother awakened to discover her infant son lifeless in a nearby trash can, as reported by authorities. The mother, identified as 28-year-old Jaley Bush, now faces charges of child endangerment resulting in death following the passing of her son, R.S. Although the alleged incident took place at the beginning of 2025, Bush was not apprehended until late last month.
The heartbreaking episode unfolded on January 27, when Bush was visiting a friend at his residence on Hickory Terrace in Keokuk, according to details from a criminal complaint accessed by Law&Crime. Accompanied by her infant son, the two fell asleep together on a bed situated in a basement bedroom.
Upon waking, Bush found her baby unresponsive, headfirst in a trash can adjacent to the bed. The court documents reveal that the infant had initially been asleep on the inner side of the bed, leading Bush to surmise that he somehow maneuvered over or around her before tragically ending up in the trash can.
The Keokuk Police Department responded promptly to the distress call around 2 p.m., initiating emergency lifesaving measures for R.S. Meanwhile, officers noted Bush’s condition, observing signs suggestive of narcotics influence. Her demeanor appeared unusually calm, and her speech was slurred, raising concerns during their conversation. Both mother and child were subsequently taken to the hospital, where Bush recounted her version of events.
In her account, Bush disclosed that before falling asleep, she had ingested Klonopin, a sedative known for its calming effects on the brain and nerves. According to WebMD, Klonopin is often used to alleviate anxiety, control seizures, and promote relaxation. Bush allegedly admitted that she was unaware of the origin of the pills she consumed, as noted in the criminal complaint.
Before falling asleep that day, Bush said she took Klonopin, a sedative that “produces a calming effect on the brain and nerves” and “helps to reduce anxiety, prevent seizures, and promote relaxation,” according to WebMD. She allegedly “did not know whom the pills belonged to,” according to the criminal complaint.
The following day, authorities secured a search warrant to obtain a blood sample from Bush. She tested positive for methamphetamine and benzodiazepines, the latter of which is the classification for Klonopin. She told police she did not take any drugs from the time first responders arrived at her home to the time the drug test was taken, per the court document.
R.S. was pronounced dead on Feb. 5 with the cause of death ruled to be asphyxia — a lack of oxygen.
Bush appeared in court for her charge on Tuesday, per local CBS affiliate KHQA.
Keokuk is located in southeastern Iowa, straddling the borders of Missouri and Illinois.
