A Des Moines teenager is facing charges following the suspicious death of his 4-month-old son. Police Sergeant Jason Halifax says the mother of the child had left the infant in his father’s care last night as she ran some errands. “However, when she returned the baby was alone in the apartment and unresponsive,” Halifax said.
The infant was pronounced dead at a hospital. The exact cause of death has not yet been determined. The baby’s father, 17-year-old Drew Weehler-Smith, is charged with the neglect of a dependent person for leaving the baby alone. “As the autopsy determines the (cause) of death, those charges may change,” Halifax said.
This is the second time this month that Des Moines Police have investigated the suspicious death of a baby. On April 15th, a woman told police she awoke to find her 5-month old child on the floor. The baby died at a hospital and the case remains under investigation. “That (case) is still open and active. There is some additional evidence we’re still waiting to get results from,” Halifax said.