Background: The Roanoke, Virginia, neighborhood where Lindsey Burnette resided with her infant (Google Maps). Inset: Lindsey Renee Burnette (Roanoke City Adult Detention Center).
A Virginia woman who reportedly told police that she woke up next to her unconscious baby now faces a murder charge.
The Roanoke Police Department announced on Tuesday the arrest of 37-year-old Lindsey Renee Burnette, who is facing charges of felony murder, child abuse and neglect with serious injury, and cruelty and injury to children following her arrest on September 3. The day before, a grand jury indicted her on these charges.
Burnette’s 2-month-old son, Aka-rri Burnette-Coleman, passed away on February 14 after emergency responders were called about an unconscious infant at her residence. He was declared dead upon their arrival.
According to the police, Burnette indicated that she had fallen asleep with the baby beside her in bed. That morning, she found the baby unconscious when she woke up. She called for assistance, and first responders arrived around 9:30 a.m.
The police stated that an inquiry into Aka-rri’s death showed he died due to “suffocation and acute methamphetamine toxicity,” according to the medical examiner’s report. It was also concluded that the infant died after his mother rolled over him in her sleep.
Burnette, who has an extensive criminal record in Virginia’s Roanoke County, including numerous arrests for methamphetamine possession and racketeering, was detained on September 3 and placed in the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center. She is being held without bail and has a court appearance scheduled for October 6.
