Couple Charged in 4-Month-Old’s Death

(BEATRICE, Neb.) – Another sad, unnecessary infant death at the hands of a boyfriend who couldn’t handle the crying.

From Platte Valley Media

A couple from Beatrice, Nebraska, has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a 4-month-old baby.

Austin Meyn and Ashlen Zitel, both 27, were taken into custody on Saturday and booked into the Gage County Jail on charges of child abuse. Zitel, the infant’s mother, appeared in court on Monday, where she was issued a bond of $250,000.

The case began on August 15, when emergency responders were called to a home in Beatrice after receiving a report that a 4-month-old boy had stopped breathing. Despite efforts to revive the infant, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

According to an arrest affidavit, Meyn, Zitel’s boyfriend, had been caring for the baby at the time of the incident. He allegedly became frustrated with the child’s crying and resorted to dangerous measures. The affidavit states that Meyn intentionally restricted the infant’s breathing by placing him face down on a bed to silence him.

Text messages obtained by authorities indicate that Zitel was aware of Meyn’s actions and did not intervene or object to the treatment of her child.

An autopsy revealed the baby had suffered “non-accidental trauma,” including broken ribs and brain bleeding, findings consistent with shaken baby syndrome, according to court documents.

Meyn faces two felony charges: intentional child abuse resulting in death and negligent child abuse resulting in death. His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday in Gage County Court.

Zitel, who is charged with negligent child abuse resulting in death and misdemeanor child abuse with no injury, is expected to return to court on October 15th.