Quinzena Rancefer (Fort Wayne Police Department).
In Indiana, a mother faces charges after allegedly causing her infant daughter’s tragic death by dozing off on the couch with the baby in her arms, leading to the child becoming trapped under a cushion and suffocating.
Quinzena Rancefer, 31, has been charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily harm, as indicated by court documents accessed by Law&Crime.
Although the charges were filed recently, the unfortunate event took place in March 2024.
As detailed by court records examined by WPTA, an ABC and NBC affiliate in Fort Wayne, the incident occurred during the night of March 25 to March 26, 2024. Rancefer reportedly fell asleep on her couch while holding her infant. She mentioned that her child normally slept in a nearby bassinet, but on this particular night, she placed the baby between herself and the couch back to prevent her from falling, according to authorities.
Authorities stated that the situation was discovered when Rancefer’s cousin arrived at the apartment and found the infant “face down and mostly under the couch cushion,” as noted in the charging document.
The cousin allegedly reported that he had to shake Rancefer several times to wake her, as she was difficult to rouse.
The cousin realized the baby wasn’t breathing, and Rancefer, at some point, did wake up, becoming “hysterical” upon learning this fact, the court records state.
Officers with the Fort Wayne Police Department were called to the home due to reports of a young child in critical condition.
The girl was later pronounced dead as a result of asphyxia due to overlay and wedging, WPTA reported.
As the investigation continued and police obtained a warrant to search the apartment, investigators allegedly found a glass pipe with burnt residue inside, a torch lighter, suspected marijuana, and prescription pills.
The day the girl died, Rancefer reportedly submitted to an oral drug screen, where she tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, according to authorities. An Indiana Department of Child Services case manager is said to have discovered the child had been drug-exposed and had THC in her system.
Due to the defendant allegedly testing positive for drugs and the child’s position when she was found not breathing, law enforcement alleged Rancefer was negligent in her daughter’s death.
She is set to have an initial hearing in her case on Tuesday, court records state.
