Pocono News Section

Mother Arrested for Alcohol Poisoning Death of Baby

Mother Arrested for Alcohol Poisoning Death of Baby - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 6:45PM EST

TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP, WYOMING COUNTY - A Wyoming County mother is now facing charges in connection with the death of her six-month-old baby in December 2007.

Jessica Barlow-Miner, 26, said nothing as she turned herself into a district court Tuesday afternoon. Minutes later, she was slapped with involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment charges in connection with the death of her son, Mason, in 2007.

"These are recklessly based charges. We indicate she acted in a grossly negligent manner as far as this child is concerned," District Attorney George Skumanick said.

Prosecutors say the baby was living in a home north of Tunkhannock at the time of her death. Lab tests showed he had a blood alcohol content of .205 at the time of his death. That's nearly three times the legal limit for an adult.

In court papers, Barlow-Miner admits giving Mason one dose of liquid Tylenol, but the DA says that couldn't have caused the baby's death. He says the baby had to have beer, wine or liquor in his system.

"We're still trying to figure out what the alcohol was, but clearly there was alcohol given to this child," Skumanick said.

Defense attorney Paul Ackourey disagrees. He says his client is innocent.

"I think the fact that it has been a year and a-half indicates there's some flaws in their case, in their theory. We'll explain those," Ackourey said.

Prosecutors say empty beer cans in the baby's house could help prove their case as these charges now hang over Barlow-Miner's head.

"I think it's a very unusual case for any county and we just took our time and made sure we had everything in order," Skumanick said.

"We're not putting our trust in what the commonwealth is saying. I think the evidence will explain what happened," Ackourey said.

Barlow-Miner is free on $25,000 unsecured bail tonight. She currently lives in Susquehanna County. She has several other children. In fact, she will be in court on Wednesday in connection with a civil case involving her children.