Sarah Jamison (Bixby Police Department).
An unsettling tragedy has emerged from Oklahoma, where a mother is facing serious allegations after the death of her infant son. Authorities report that Sarah Jamison, 31, is accused of unintentionally smothering her 5-month-old while allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
Legal documents from the Tulsa County District Court reveal that Jamison is charged with child neglect in connection to the events of October 18. She is set to appear in court for her arraignment this coming Wednesday.
According to authorities, Jamison’s recollection of the preceding night includes consuming a six-pack of Voodoo Ranger’s Juice Force beer and a shot of rum. Later that evening, the child’s father arrived home from work around 10 p.m. and joined Jamison in drinking on the couch. Subsequently, she took the baby to bed, as detailed in a probable cause affidavit obtained by Tulsa-based CBS affiliate KOTV.
Jamison later disclosed to investigators that she had been grappling with postpartum depression. Although she refrained from drinking during her pregnancy, she admitted to resuming alcohol consumption about six weeks after her son’s birth. She reportedly expressed that her struggles with this child were more severe compared to her previous children.
That same night, the child’s father returned home from work at about 10 p.m., and he drank with Jamison on their couch until she brought the baby with her to bed, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Tulsa-based CBS affiliate KOTV.
The mother had been experiencing postpartum depression, she later told investigators. And, while she said she did not drink during her pregnancy, she did start about six weeks after birth, police say. Her disorder with her baby boy was worse than with her previous children, she allegedly said.
At some point, the father is said to have gone to bed and noticed the baby was not breathing under Jamison’s shoulder. The father then proceeded to try CPR and call 911.
Officers arrived at about 5:45 a.m. to a startling sight, according to the affidavit. The baby was gray and not breathing, and Jamison only woke after officers shined a flashlight on her, yelled, and shook her bed for approximately two minutes.
The smell of alcohol was present in the air, the affidavit alleges.
The mother reportedly slurred her speech as she spoke and said: “If my kid is dead, I might as well be too.” Then Jamison allegedly added: “I said I needed help, I tried to get help.”
About three hours later, when the defendant’s blood was drawn by law enforcement, her blood alcohol level was 0.309, police say.
Bixby is a city in eastern Oklahoma, located about 22 miles south of Tulsa and 113 miles east of Oklahoma City.
