WILKES-BARRE — A preliminary hearing for a Nanticoke woman charged in the death of her 1-month-old daughter was continued due to the unavailability of a detective Friday.
But that did not stop Luzerne County Chief Public Defender Joseph Yeager from giving his thoughts about the case against Natalee Michele Rasmus.
Yeager successfully argued that bail be set for Rasmus, 20, of West Green Street, as she is a lifelong resident of Nanticoke, attended Nanticoke schools until the 10th grade when she was home-schooled and the high probability she will be acquitted on charges of third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and perhaps endangering the welfare of children.
Luzerne County First Assistant District Attorney Anthony Ross took exception to Yeager’s referral that the criminal case against Rasmus is weak.
Despite the attorneys arguing about the merits of the case, District Judge Donald Whittaker of Nanticoke set Rasmus’ bail at $25,000.
Rasmus has been jailed without bail at the county correctional facility since she was charged by the Pennsylvania State Police at Wilkes-Barre and county detectives on Dec. 16.
Investigators in court records allege Rasmus, then 17, placed her infant daughter, Avaya Jade Rasmus-Alberto, face down in a bassinet to sleep against recommendations of medical personnel and instructions displayed on a Boppy pillow regarding sleeping positions for newborns.
Investigators believe by placing the infant face down on her stomach to sleep impeded the baby’s ability to breath.
An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross revealed Rasmus-Alberto died by asphyxiation as the coroner’s office ruled the manner of death an accident.
Rasmus discovered her infant daughter unresponsive the morning of Oct. 23, 2022, when she picked the baby up to bathe in preparation of a pediatrics appointment.
Rasmus screamed resulting in her mother calling 911.
Investigators recovered a Boppy pillow inside the bassinet that had a tag warning parents of newborns, “Do not use for sleeping.”
A forensic data extraction of Rasmus’ cellular phone revealed she searched if it was possible to lay a newborn on the stomach to sleep receiving a response that back-sleeping is recommended as stomach sleeping is unsafe and increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, court records say.
When Rasmus gave birth to her daughter, she received literature for new parents,“Bright Futures Parent Handout” that has two pages advising parents to “Always put your baby to sleep on his back in his own crib, not your bed.”
Whittaker re-scheduled Rasmus’ preliminary hearing for Feb. 28.
Attorney Melissa A. Sulima from the public defender’s office is co-representing Rasmus.
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